4 Philippine Islands Named Among the Best in Asia in Online Poll

While much of the world remains under lockdown, and for a good reason, at least 600,000 travellers shared their 2020 travel insights in an annual online poll administered by a renowned international magazine. And once again, several top Philippine destinations took centre stage in a few of the categories.

For the Top Islands in Asia, the merged Cebu and Visayas Islands took the coveted top spot, beating Sri Lanka and Thailand’s Koh Pa Ngan which placed second and third, respectively. “Cebu draws nearly 2 million travelers annually for its pristine beaches and diving off the island’s northern coast,” the magazine said in the official entry.

Meanwhile, taking the fourth and fifth spots are Palawan, which has been regularly recognised in the online award-giving campaign in past years, and Siargao, which is loved for its “pristine white beaches, coconut woodlands, and emerald mangrove forest.” Boracay, although part of the Visayas Islands, likewise placed sixth in the same list.

Also read: What If The Philippines Had Its Own ‘7 Natural Wonders’?

Hotels and resorts as top Philippine destinations

Aside from island destinations, a few hotels and resorts in the Philippines also made it to two other categories. For the Top 20 Hotels in Asia, Raffles Makati ranked fourth after Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Rosewood Luang Prabang, Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur. Raffles Makati is known for its ultramodern 30-storey building and luxurious accommodations for business and leisure travellers.

For the Top 30 Resorts in Asia category, El Nido Resorts – Apulit Island and El Nido Resorts – Lagen Island in Palawan bagged the 18th and 23rd spots. Aside from their dreamy natural landscapes, both resorts in Palawan also champion sustainability with the use of green designs, as well as offering sustainable food and nature-based activities. The list was led by COMO Uma Punakha in Punakha, Bhutan.

Also read: Sustainable Tourism in the Philippines: 5 Easy Ways Travellers Can Help!

DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on the latest recognitions

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat approved of the said recognitions, noting that the Philippines is “indeed blessed with the best of nature, as exhibited by the consecutive accolades we are receiving from reputable and prestigious publications for our islands and beaches.”

Furthermore, Romulo-Puyat said that it gives them a boost of confidence in their efforts to slowly reopen tourism in more top Philippine destinations. “With over 7,641 islands in our archipelago, there are still so many left for nature-loving travelers to discover. In our journey towards tourism revival, sustainable and responsible tourism development shall continue to be one of the DOT’s core principles, just like how it has always been in the past few years.”

Featured image credit: Big Dodzy | Unsplash