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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Food devider Deep beneath the surface, this country has so much to offer

Deep beneath the surface, this country has so much to offer

PH wins Asia Pacific's Best Dive Destination at the Travel Weekly Asia Awards

Published Oct 16, 2023 03:23 pm
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A SEA OF BEAUTY Tubbataha Reef is home to a diverse ecosystem of marine life such as turtles, sharks, corals, and more (Photo WWF Philippines)

With its rich marine life, vibrant coral reefs, and continued commitment to conserving and promoting its aquatic ecosystems, the Philippines was hailed as the Best Dive Destination in Asia Pacific at the Travel Weekly Asia (TWA) Readers’ Choice Awards held early this month at Conrad Centennial, Singapore.

Hosted by Northstar Travel Group, the awards ceremony annually recognizes hotels, resorts, airlines, destinations, cruise lines, and travel agencies through an online poll of Travel Weekly readers, as well as industry professionals. The finalists and winners are then featured in different Travel Weekly Asia issues, where readers can explore more about each destination’s unique sceneries and experiences.

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UNDER THE SEA The Philippines is a trove of treasures, an underwater world of living marvels
(Photos Finnur Snaer Oktosson and Gibson Sojor Jr)

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“This accolade underscores our commitment to preserving and showcasing the exceptional natural wonders that our country is blessed with, from our wide range of diving destinations that cater to both novice and experienced divers alike to our equally diverse shorelines and surrounding coral reefs that are home to thousands of marine species,” says Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines’ COO Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles.

Present during the awarding ceremony were Micaela B. Ochoa, TPB acting head for ASEAN and the Pacific Division, and Dr. Emmanuel R. Fernandez, deputy head of mission and consul general based at the Embassy of the Philippines in Singapore who also received the honor on behalf of the Philippines.

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DIVERS' PARADISE Micaela B. Ochoa, TPB acting
head for ASEAN and the Pacific Division, and Dr.
Emmanuel R. Fernandez, deputy head of mission
and consul general based in the Embassy
of the Philippines in Singapore received the
honor on behalf of the Philippines

Asia Northstar Travel Group vice president and group publisher Irene Chua expressed her thoughts with the awards ceremony’s objective.

“Recognizing the travel industry’s finest is not just about honoring their achievements, but fueling their motivation to continue innovating and driving positive change. By celebrating their contributions, we inspire a collective effort toward making the industry more progressive, exciting, and outstanding for all involved.”

With the country’s glorious beauty and rich mega biodiversity, the Philippines has been receiving back-to-back worldwide recognition, including being named World’s Leading Dive Destination as well as Asia’s Leading Dive Destination consistently since 2019 at the World Travel Awards 2023. The country was also recognized as the Best Dive Destination at the Diving and Resort Travel Expo in Malaysia and Taiwan earlier this year.

Related Tags

Travel Weekly Asia (TWA) Readers’ Choice Awards Northstar Travel Group
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