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| Philippines to temporarily close popular tourist island Boracay | Philippines to temporarily close popular tourist island Boracay |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Philippine island of Boracay will be closed to tourists for six months following concerns of damage to its once pristine shores. | The Philippine island of Boracay will be closed to tourists for six months following concerns of damage to its once pristine shores. |
| A spokesperson for President Rodrigo Duterte said the closure will begin on 26 April. | A spokesperson for President Rodrigo Duterte said the closure will begin on 26 April. |
| Earlier this year Mr Duterte said Boracay was turning into a "cesspool" and threatened to shut it down. | Earlier this year Mr Duterte said Boracay was turning into a "cesspool" and threatened to shut it down. |
| The island, known for its white-sand beaches, attracted nearly 2 million visitors last year. | The island, known for its white-sand beaches, attracted nearly 2 million visitors last year. |
| The decision has prompted concern for the thousands of people employed in Boracay's busy tourist trade. | The decision has prompted concern for the thousands of people employed in Boracay's busy tourist trade. |
| The island is home to around 500 tourism-related businesses, which drew in annual revenue of $1.07bn (£760m) last year. The government said affected companies will receive financial aid. | The island is home to around 500 tourism-related businesses, which drew in annual revenue of $1.07bn (£760m) last year. The government said affected companies will receive financial aid. |
| It's not clear how the shutdown will be implemented, though the department of trade and industry had earlier proposed closing the island down in phases, saying a total shutdown would be detrimental to businesses and livelihoods. | |
| Damage fears | Damage fears |
| The move follows growing concern over the island's environmental health. | The move follows growing concern over the island's environmental health. |
| Officials had warned businesses had been releasing wastewater into the surrounding waters. | Officials had warned businesses had been releasing wastewater into the surrounding waters. |
| In February, Mr Duterte blasted the island's hotels, restaurants and other tourist businesses, accusing them of dumping sewage directly into the sea. | In February, Mr Duterte blasted the island's hotels, restaurants and other tourist businesses, accusing them of dumping sewage directly into the sea. |
| "I will charge you for serious neglect of duty [for] making Boracay a fishpond or a sewer pool," Mr Duterte said at the time. | "I will charge you for serious neglect of duty [for] making Boracay a fishpond or a sewer pool," Mr Duterte said at the time. |
| "Either [you] clean it up or I will close it permanently. There will be a time that no more foreigners will go there." | "Either [you] clean it up or I will close it permanently. There will be a time that no more foreigners will go there." |