THE PHILIPPINES bagged the leading dive and beach destination awards at the 29th World Travel Awards held in Muscat, Oman on Nov. 11, the Tourism department announced.
“These Awards are a source of inspiration for us in the Department of Tourism to work even harder… As we anticipate the influx of more tourists, we shall continue the work to improve the overall tourist experience in the Philippines, and herald the best of the Filipino brand to the world,” Tourism Secretary Christina G. Frasco said in a statement on Monday.
The country won the same recognition in September for the Asia cluster.
“The Philippine dive portfolio continues its four-year winning streak for the World’s Leading Dive Destination title as it lorded over the world’s finest diving destinations, which include the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Cayman Islands, Maldives, Fiji, Mexico, Azores Islands, French Polynesia, Galapagos Islands, St. Kitts, and Belize,” the department said.
For the beach destination award, the Philippines bested previous awardees such as Maldives, The Algarve in Portugal, Jamaica, Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, and Turks and Caicos Islands.
Three tourism establishments in the Philippines were also recognized in the 2022 awards.
These are: Amanpulo as the World’s Leading Dive Resort; City of Dreams Manila, World’s Leading Casino Resort 2022; and Ascott Bonifacio Global City Manila, World’s Leading Serviced Apartments 2022.
Ms. Frasco said among the department’s “objectives are to further enhance the development and promotion of key destinations and to equalize development by supporting lesser-known areas across our Regions.” — MSJ