Philippine tourism's crown jewel, Boracay, has reopened following a six-month closure. Tourists started arriving on Friday to a cleaner, less crowded island, but as CGTN's Barnaby Lo tells us, everyone will also have to adjust to new rules.

Over the years, the booming tourism industry of Boracay, one of the Philippines' most popular holiday destinations, has provided tens of thousands with stable livelihoods. So when President Rodrigo announced that the island would be shut down for six months, it came as a shock to Liezl Visitacion, who's been working at this resort for more than a decade. What followed were days of uncertainty.

LIEZL VISITACION CALYPSO BEACH AND DIVE RESORT EMPLOYEE "I had planned to transfer my kids to a public school because we wouldn't be able to afford their tuition but their school's administrator understood our predicament and offered a viable payment scheme."

Liezl's employer also helped out by providing her with part-time work throughout the closure. This, despite zero income, and at the same time having to shell out a sizeable amount to comply with the government's new requirements.

GIAN EJARES CALYPSO BEACH AND DIVE RESORT OWNER "The front portion of our resort wasn't 30 meters away from the beach as mandated now so we had to build a new bar at that distance, in addition to other modifications and renovations."

But the single biggest problem, and the reason why many establishments remain closed, is wastewater.

BARNABY LO BORACAY, PHILIPPINES "When you talk about Boracay being a cesspool, it's really this part of Boracay that was the cesspool before the six-month closure. What had happened was, some hotels, some establishments, they dumped their waste water into Boracay's drainage system, and all that untreated wastewater flowed directly into this sea."

The government says it is determined to maintain Boracay's pristine state. Not only will non-compliant hotels not be allowed to operate, but tourists will also have to follow new rules. Among other things, there will be no smoking, drinking, and partying on the beach. It's a different Boracay, but a better one, Gian says. He's confident travelers from around the world, including the Chinese, will see nothing but paradise. Barnaby Lo, CGTN, Boracay, the Philippines.