LEGAZPI CITY, Albay -- Conde Nast Traveler, one of the most esteemed travel magazines in the world, ranked the province of Sorsogon as top 8 among the best islands in the Philippines, alongside global favorites Boracay and El Nido.
Boracay, Siargao and El Nido took the top 3 spots, respectively, while Coron and Pamalican, both in Palawan, were 4th and 5th spots, also in that order.
Calaguas (Camarines Norte), Balesin (In Lamon Bay, Eastern coast off Luzon), Sorsogon (Bicol), San Juan (La Union) and Puerto Princesa (Palawan) were ranked 6th, 7th, 8th 9th and 10th, in that order.
“In many ways, Sorsogon is the best place to discover the Philippines’ vibrant wildlife – one of the richest in the world. It is perfect for those looking to add a bit of adventure to their Philippines sojourn. Here, you can swim with manta rays and giant ‘Butandings’ (whale sharks), hike the Bulusan Volcano National Park or sail along the Donsol River,” Conde Nast Traveller said.
The town of Donsol in Sorsogon is famous for its safe and friendly whale shark or “Butanding” interaction, which allows tourists to swim with the friendly sharks without touching or feeding them.
“A relatively-unknown spot, the Donsol River is a wonderfully ethereal boating experience, as its idyllic rural landscape gets transformed by hundreds of thousands of fireflies that illuminate the riverbank once night falls,” Conde Nast Traveller said.
Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero welcomed the news, saying the province of Sorsogon is not only rich in wildlife but also in history.
Escudero, who is seeking a Senate seat, has been pushing for domestic tourism to help spur the local economy after the loss brought by the pandemic.
He added that the key to promote the Philippines was to tell the stories of each place, which the province is doing through the Sorsogon Museum and Heritage Center.
“Ang turismo ay hindi simpleng magagandang tanawin lamang; ang turismo ay hindi simpleng magagandang beach o magagandang edipisyo o masasarap ng pagkain lamang. Higit sa lahat ng iyon, ang turismo ay tungkol sa kwento na pwedeng sabihin sa bawat lugar. Hindi man ganun ka-tanyag ang kwento tungkol sa lalawigan ng Sorsogon, tiyak kong kakaiba ang kwentong sasabihan namin dahil ang kwentong iyon ay tungkol sa amin at hindi pwedeng ihalintulad sa ibang lugar,” he said.
As of April 7, the Philippines registered 202,700 foreign tourist arrivals, beating its own target of 200,000.