Here’s another reason for you to travel domestic as pandemic restrictions ease up: the Philippines has once again bagged two awards in the recent 2021 World Travel Awards. The country was named Asia’s leading beach destination and Asia’s leading dive destination–at the 28th edition of WTA.
With these wins, the country continues its streak since 2019 to win Asia’s Leading Dive Destination award. This is also the fifth time the country won the Leading Beach Destination award. How awesome, right?
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards serves to acknowledge, reward, and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. To this day, WTA is recognized globally as the “ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.”
According to its website, “Despite the ongoing global challenges, the appetite for travel has reached unprecedented levels. Evidence is reflected in the World Travel Awards annual voting figures.”
But wait, there’s more! The country is still in the running for other prestigious awards this year, namely:
- World’s Leading Beach Destination 2021: Philippines
- World’s Leading Dive Destination 2021: Philippines
- World’s Leading Island Destination 2021: Siargao, Philippines
- World’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2021: Intramuros, Philippines World’s Leading Tourist Board 2021: Philippines, Department of Tourism
You can help the country bag these coveted prizes by voting on their website until midnight of October 25.
Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said, “We are elated that the country’s pristine beaches and mesmerizing dive spots have once again been cited as the best in Asia by the prestigious 2021 World Travel Awards. We share this recognition with our tourism stakeholders, local government units, partner agencies, and all Filipinos who have been helping us promote our country’s attractions, products, and culture.”
Given how difficult it has been for the tourism industry to cope with the pandemic, these accolades provide some much-needed morale boost for local players. It also encourages more travelers to explore the wonders of the country.
