Several tourists openly called out the tourism office of Camiguin Island and actress Julia Barretto for ruining their vacation day last weekend.
In a Facebook post, Nikka Kho said they were supposed to visit Mantigue Island with other tourists last weekend when they were informed that the place was closed due to a celebrity shoot.
According to her, there was no prior announcement about the said photo shoot of the celebrity, who eventually turned out to be Julia Barretto.
“We were told the island would reopen at 12 PM, so we rushed to make it in time. Upon arrival, we found frustrated tourists waiting, including those who had flights to catch. Despite assurances, the shoot extended past 1 PM, forcing many to cancel or reschedule their plans,” said Kho.
“To the LGU of Camiguin, prioritizing a single celebrity over numerous paying tourists is unacceptable. If closures are necessary, proper advance notice should be given—at least a week prior—to prevent unnecessary inconvenience,” she added.
She also addressed Julia’s camp, saying that they shouldn’t close down an entire island, calling their action selfish and entitled.
“To Julia Barretto and your team, while we respect your work, shutting down an entire public island for hours with no regard for others is selfish and entitled. If efficiency mattered, you could have started earlier instead of occupying Mantigue Island at peak hours. Instead of gaining admiration, you turned potential fans into critics,” she said.
As of writing, the LGU of Camiguin Island and Julia have yet to give any response to the complaints they received from the tourists.
Mantigue Island is one of Camiguin’s most popular tourist spots due to its pristine waters and white sand.