美国国家公共电台 NPR The Philippines government hopes a surge in tourists will save its economy

The Philippines government hopes a surge in tourists will save its economy

Transcript²

Boracay Island, the most popular beach in the Philippines, is making a comeback after nearly two years of pandemic restrictions³. It comes as the Philippines finally reopens its borders to tourism.

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

Tourism makes up a big chunk⁴ of the economy of the Philippines, which started bringing back foreign tourists this month. The country's most popular beach destination is hoping to become a model for safely reopening tourism spots amid the pandemic. As Ashley Westerman reports, locals hope a mix of vaccines⁵ and positive attitudes will help restore Boracay Island to its former glory.

ASHLEY WESTERMAN, BYLINE⁶: When you reach the jetty port in Caticlan to hop¹ a ferry to Boracay Island, visitors are greeted by the typical local niceties.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Hello, ma'am.

WESTERMAN: Hello, ma'am. Welcome. Good day. And then there's this.

(SOUNDBITE OF THERMOMETER BEEPING)

AUTOMATED⁷ VOICE: Normal temperature.

WESTERMAN: One of those little boxy, white digital thermometers takes everyone's temperature entering the port.

(SOUNDBITE OF THERMOMETER BEEPING)

AUTOMATED VOICE: Normal temperature.

WESTERMAN: These devices are now just one of the many ways officials in the Philippines' most popular beach spot are trying to ensure everyone visiting their island paradise is healthy. The Philippines has experienced the worst pandemic recession in all of Southeast Asia. So when officials in late January announced that foreign tourists would be welcome back, they made it clear the move was about helping⁸ the country's hard-hit economy. Twelve percent of the Philippines' GDP every year comes from tourism. Soon after, Boracay started making vacationing here more palatable⁹. Officials dropped the required COVID-19 PCR test for fully¹⁰ vaccinated¹¹ individuals and allowed hotels to book more guests and restaurants to seat more people. And while visitors still have to fill out a health declaration, wear masks in public and social distance, officials here say it's time to reopen.

FROLIBAR BAUTISTA: Boracay is very dependent on tourists - meaning, no tourists, no income.

WESTERMAN: Frolibar Bautista is acting¹² mayor of Malay, the town in which Boracay is part of. He says the last two years have been really hard on island residents. Pre-pandemic, Boracay's pristine¹³ white beaches and crystal blue-green water attracted over 2 million visitors in 2019. In 2020, that number dwindled¹⁴ to just over 16,000, mostly domestic travelers. Bautista says getting locals vaccinated has been the priority in preparing to reopen to international travelers.

BAUTISTA: A hundred percent of our tourism workers are already vaccinated. And the residents are almost 80% vaccinated.

WESTERMAN: Bautista says because of this, residents should have nothing to fear when it comes to welcoming back foreign tourists to Bautista. At White Beach, the island's main drag, vendors¹⁵ are honking¹⁶ everything from island-hopping tours and diving expeditions to henna tattoos¹⁷ and dinner.

MARK RAYMOND DE LEON: Hello (non-English language spoken).

WESTERMAN: Mark Raymond de Leon (ph) has been coordinating¹⁸ activities here for nearly 15 years. Before the pandemic, he was making nearly $1,000 a month. Since, that's dropped by more than half. De Leon says he's ready to serve international tours again. Though, he is a bit worried about coronavirus cases going up.

DE LEON: We need the tourists in the island. That's why we need to face it (laughter).

WESTERMAN: Nearby, Gladys Flucious (ph) says she's not worried about the virus because of Boracay's high vaccination¹⁹ rate.

So are you ready for international tourists?

GLADYS FLUCIOUS: Yes. We're so excited (laughter).

WESTERMAN: It's a glimmer²⁰ of hope after enduring nearly two years of economic hardship.

For NPR news, I'm Ashley Westerman in Boracay, Philippines.

(SOUNDBITE OF STARS ON 33'S "SOMETHING YOU CAN FEEL")

1 hop   

n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过

参考例句：

• The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛，看谁单足跳跃最快。
• How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远？

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 chunk   

n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量）

参考例句：

• They had to be careful of floating chunks of ice.他们必须当心大块浮冰。
• The company owns a chunk of farmland near Gatwick Airport.该公司拥有盖特威克机场周边的大片农田。

5 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

6 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

7 automated   

a.自动化的

参考例句：

• The entire manufacturing process has been automated. 整个生产过程已自动化。
• Automated Highway System (AHS) is recently regarded as one subsystem of Intelligent Transport System (ITS). 近年来自动公路系统(Automated Highway System,AHS)，作为智能运输系统的子系统之一越来越受到重视。

8 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

9 palatable   

adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的

参考例句：

• The truth is not always very palatable.事实真相并非尽如人意。
• This wine is palatable and not very expensive.这种酒味道不错，价钱也不算贵。

10 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

11 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

12 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

13 pristine   

adj.原来的，古时的，原始的，纯净的，无垢的

参考例句：

• He wiped his fingers on his pristine handkerchief.他用他那块洁净的手帕擦手指。
• He wasn't about to blemish that pristine record.他本不想去玷污那清白的过去。

14 dwindled   

v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Support for the party has dwindled away to nothing. 支持这个党派的人渐渐化为乌有。
• His wealth dwindled to nothingness. 他的钱财化为乌有。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 vendors   

n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方

参考例句：

• The vendors were gazundered at the last minute. 卖主在最后一刻被要求降低房价。
• At the same time, interface standards also benefIt'software vendors. 同时，界面标准也有利于软件开发商。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

16 honking   

v.（使）发出雁叫似的声音，鸣（喇叭），按（喇叭）( honk的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Cars zoomed helter-skelter, honking belligerently. 大街上来往车辆穿梭不停，喇叭声刺耳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Flocks of honking geese flew past. 雁群嗷嗷地飞过。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

17 tattoos   

n.文身( tattoo的名词复数 )；归营鼓；军队夜间表演操；连续有节奏的敲击声v.刺青，文身( tattoo的第三人称单数 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击

参考例句：

• His arms were covered in tattoos. 他的胳膊上刺满了花纹。
• His arms were covered in tattoos. 他的双臂刺满了纹身。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 coordinating   

v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的现在分词 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• He abolished the Operations Coordinating Board and the Planning Board. 他废除了行动协调委员会和计划委员会。 来自辞典例句
• He's coordinating the wedding, and then we're not going to invite him? 他是来协调婚礼的，难道我们不去请他？ 来自电影对白

19 vaccination   

n.接种疫苗，种痘

参考例句：

• Vaccination is a preventive against smallpox.种痘是预防天花的方法。
• Doctors suggest getting a tetanus vaccination every ten years.医生建议每十年注射一次破伤风疫苗。

20 glimmer   

v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光

参考例句：

• I looked at her and felt a glimmer of hope.我注视她，感到了一线希望。
• A glimmer of amusement showed in her eyes.她的眼中露出一丝笑意。