The agency also spelled out its plans and programs for 2023, with its major thrust focusing on connectivity, convenience, and e(Quality).
LONDON, United Kingdom- There is no stopping the Philippines from bagging accolades as an in-demand travel destination as the country’s top tourist destination Palawan was hailed as one the Most Desirable Island among the world’s best in the 21st Wanderlust Travel Awards.
The country’s Tourism Board, through the Philippine Department of Tourism-Central Visayas Office also placed 6th among hundreds of special entries in the Wanderlust Sustainability Initiative Category for its Dive7 Program.
The awards were given on 9 November by the prestigious Wanderlust travel magazine, one of the United Kingdom’s longest running publications that has been at the forefront of sustainable travel for 29 years.
Cebu was also nominated this year as Most Desirable Region (Rest of the World) by the award-giving body.
“On behalf of the Department of Tourism, we thank the readers of Wanderlust Magazine for their love and support for the Philippines! These awards reflect the efforts to revive the tourism industry that are well underway especially because of the Marcos administration’s thrust towards prioritizing tourism development. Rest assured that we will continue with our mission to herald the Philippines and the Filipino brand to the world, and to ensure the continued sustainability of our islands” Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said. Frasco led the Philippine delegation to the World Travel Market recently held in London.
These new awards add to the long list of recognitions the country has earned even at the height of the COVID-19 crisis.
In June this year, Conde Nast Travel (CNT) also named the Philippines as part of the 40 Most Beautiful Countries in the World, specifically citing the remarkable cave system of the Puerto Princesa Underground River, the mysteriously uniform Chocolate Hills of Bohol, and the panoramic views of the Banaue and Cordilleras Rice Terraces.
The following month, the renowned Travel + Leisure magazine also named the country’s tourist magnets Boracay, Palawan, and Cebu part of the 25 Best Islands in the World.
TIME Magazine also lauded Boracay as one of the 50 World’s Greatest Places of 2022.
In September, the Philippines, yet again, won Asia’s leading dive and beach destination, and the historic Walled City of Intramuros as Asia’s leading tourist attraction at the World Travel Awards (WTA) in Vietnam.
