Lapu-Lapu City officials is seeking to expand a homestay program in the mainland to accommodate the influx of tourists that were expected to arrive in the city after the closure of Boracay Island.
Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Officer Hembler Mendoza said residents in Olango Island are now offering their homes to accommodate tourists.
He said about 500 tourists diverted their flight from Boracay to Lapu-Lapu City.
While Mendoza said he cannot assure that hotels and resorts in the city won’t raise their room rates, the demand is expected to increase by May.
Currently, 95 percent of their rooms are already occupied, he said. Senior Supt. Rommel Cabagnot, Lapu-Lapu City poiice chief, he will ask for more personnel from the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) to beef up their security for the tourists.
He said he will meet with officials of homeowners associations to talk about their homestay accommodations.