The Philippines has once again named as the leading dive destination in the world during the World Travel Awards 2021, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced.
“This distinction is indeed a great privilege, yet, it underlines our great responsibility of protecting and conserving our underwater resources so that these will also be enjoyed and experienced in their pristine natural state by future generations,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.
This is the third consecutive year that the Philippines has won the award since 2019. It bested other dive destinations in the world, such as Maldives, Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Azores Islands, Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Galapagos Islands, and Mexico.
The Philippines boasts of having the best diving destinations with biologically diverse marine and aquatic resources.
According to the DOT, the country belongs to the magnificent Coral Triangle and was dubbed as the Amazon of the Ocean that is home to 600 coral species, 2,000 reef fish species, and six out of the world’s seven species of marine turtles.
The World Travel Awards earlier recognized the Philippines as this year's leading beach and diving destination in Asia—the fifth time to be named Asia's Leading Beach Destination and the third time in a row to win as Asia's Leading Dive Destination.
Dive circuits have already been enhanced by the DOT in the country's top diving spots such as the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan, Anilao in Batangas, Malapascua and Moalboal in Cebu, Balicasag, Panglao and Anda in Bohol, and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro.
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards aims to acknowledge, reward, and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.