News roundup: Boracay heats up preparations for tourists’ arrival this summer, and other headlines

For PropertyGuru’s news roundup, Boracay’s local government prepares for a deluge of tourists this summer. In other headlines, Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry is considering extending the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) programme to cover foreign tourists, while premium malls in Australia are performing strongly, with Vicinity and John Gandel’s Chadstone centre in Melbourne once again topping the rankings.

Boracay readies security, safety measures for tourists this summer

The local government of Malay in the province of Aklan, Philippines, has activated its municipal incident management team to monitor tourist arrivals in Boracay Island this summer.

“In terms of preparation, we consider our peace and order and security, medical and emergency preparedness, as well as our solid waste management. So far, we are in place already,” Malay chief tourism operations officer Felix delos Santos Jr. said, as reported by PNA.

Delos Santos said that for this summer, among the big events they are preparing are Love Boracay and a series of international events, sports tourism, and beach activities that are expected to usher more tourists to the island.

Love Boracay is the biggest and most highly anticipated annual party season on the island, emphasising environmental conservation through a series of activities from 26th April to 1st May.

And there are two international events in the last week of April, the beach volleyball and dragon boat competitions.

While they have no target number of arrivals, delos Santos said based on the pre-pandemic data, it could reach a total of 200,000 during the summer months of April to May. “We consider that as the super peak,” he said.

Thailand tourism ministry considers health scheme for foreign tourists

Road and water accidents are the leading causes of injuries among foreign travellers in Thailand, with some rental car shops and tourists deliberately not following the rules.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry and the National Institute for Emergency Medicine plan to discuss the possibility of extending the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) programme to cover foreign tourists.

In a Bangkok Post report, Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said the ministry already raised this issue with the Public Health Ministry and is awaiting a blueprint as the government determines a safety scheme as a key element of its strategy to elevate Thailand to become a tourism hub next year. She said foreign tourists should be included in emergency medical services at all hospitals across Thailand.

A Taiwanese tourist was severely injured in a car crash last December and was denied admittance by a private hospital, creating a media stir.

As of 31st March, 128 tourists were injured while travelling in Thailand this year, with 64 fatalities.

Australia’s top malls back with Chadstone on top as city shops jump

Premium malls in Australia are performing strongly as shoppers defy the cost-of-living crunch and pour into big centres for entertainment and new services.

Although interest rate relief is likely deferred until later this year, top centres are pulling in luxury shoppers, prompting demand for space from local and international brands.

As per realcommercial.com.au, the annual Big Guns report by industry publication Shopping Centre News showed the best centres had performed strongly last year, even amid broader valuation reset across shopping centres.

The survey of malls showed more than 90 percent of them had healthy increases in turnover in the previous year.

On the basis of moving annual turnover (MAT), Vicinity and John Gandel’s Chadstone centre in Melbourne once again topped the rankings with a massive AUD2.67 billion. Scentre Group’s Westfield Chermside in Brisbane recorded a 6.3 percent increase, placing it second with an MAT of AUD1.3 billion. Last year three more centres joined the billion-plus club – Westfield Parramatta, Westfield Doncaster, and QIC’s Robina Town Centre. There are now 12 centres in Australia with an MAT in excess of AUD1 billion.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].