Body names PH as ‘world’s leading tourism destination’

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco / DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

THE international recognition for the Philippines as a most well-liked tourism vacation spot continues to maintain coming.

Division of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco introduced on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, that the Philippines had been named the World’s Main Nation Tourism Vacation spot on the Uzakrota World Journey Awards 2022 by Turkish journey group Uzakrota.

The Philippines acquired 721 votes, profitable by a big margin over different nominated nations.

Malaysia got here in second with 523 votes, whereas the Dominican Republic was third with 459 votes.

That is the second win for the Philippines within the Uzakrota World Journey Awards, having first clinched the identical recognition in 2020, Frasco mentioned.

The newest feat comes after the nation additionally acquired citations for its vacationer locations from numerous journey organizations and United States-based on-line journey guides.

“Because the worldwide accolades for the Philippines continues to develop, so too the position of tourism as an engine of the Philippines’ financial progress beneath the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose prioritization of tourism has introduced a lot optimism and hope for the business. These awards replicate the worldwide touring public’s vote of confidence and enthusiasm for our nation, and it interprets to extra vacationers visiting our shores as evidenced by our over two million arrivals so far,” Secretary Frasco mentioned in an announcement.

After a two-year break as a result of coronavirus illness pandemic, the Philippines reopened its doorways to international vacationers on Feb. 10, 2022.

In keeping with the DOT, the Philippines additionally “picked up 13 recognitions in all classes accessible at Scuba Diving’s 2023 Readers’ Alternative Awards by US-based Scuba Diving Journal, together with the highest honors for Shore Diving.”

The nation ranked second in Macro Life, Cavern / Cave and Grotto Diving, Novices, Images, and Greatest Worth classes; third in Wreck Diving, Snorkeling and Well being of Marine Setting; fourth in Wall Diving and Superior; fifth in Greatest Total; and ninth within the Large Animals grouping for the Pacific and Indian Ocean cluster.

The Philippines was additionally just lately named the World’s Main Dive Vacation spot 2022 by the World Journey Awards.

Cebu, Frasco’s dwelling province, additionally took the nineteenth slot within the 50 Greatest Locations to Journey in 2023 by the US-based on-line journey information Journey Lemming. Journey Lemming described Cebu as “excellent for every type of vacationers” and “permits you to take pleasure in each thrilling experiences and waterfront leisure.”

One other key tourism vacation spot within the Philippines, Palawan, was cited by one other US-based journey information Fodor as one of many 40 locations on its Go Checklist for 2023. Fodor known as Palawan “the very definition of eco-luxury” and “one of many Philippines’ most magical islands the place underwater worlds meet lush jungles.”

For the Uzakrota Journey Awards 2022, billed as the worldwide initiative to acknowledge and reward excellence in journey and tourism, the voting passed off from Oct. 3 to twenty-eight, with the awards offered on Nov. 29.

A complete of 201,967 votes have been registered globally and awards have been distributed in 45 classes, together with for World’s Main Journey App (GetTransfer.com with 950 votes), World’s Main Journey Model (Emirates Airline with 886 votes) and World’s Main Digital Airline (Qatar Airways with 884 votes).

The World’s Main Metropolis Tourism Vacation spot was Istanbul, Turkey (853 votes), adopted by Dubai, UAE (682) and London, UK (515).

The World’s Main Conferences & Convention Vacation spot was Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (803 votes), adopted by Istanbul, Turkey (753), and London, UK (507). (with PR)