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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Food devider More reasons to 'Love the Philippines'

More reasons to 'Love the Philippines'

In celebration of Manila Bulletin's 124th anniversary theme of 'Newsmakers of the Year,' we look back at tourism accolades bestowed upon the Philippines in 2023, as led by the Department of Tourism

Published Feb 2, 2024 06:03 am
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(Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism)

2023 proved to be a remarkable year for Philippine tourism, surpassing the target international visitor arrivals and reaching the five-million mark before year-end. Under the leadership of the Department of Tourism, the country earned numerous accolades from prestigious travel institutions, including the World Travel Awards 2023 (WTA) held at Burj Al Arab in Dubai, UAE, in December.

The Philippines was honored with the inaugural Global Tourism Resilience Award, acknowledging the country's demonstration of “global leadership, pioneering vision, and innovation to overcome critical challenges and adversity.” Being one of just five countries acknowledged for this award, the Philippines sets the standard for best practices in tourism resilience.

In addition to this significant recognition, the Philippines was once again honored as the World's Leading Dive Destination, World's Leading Beach Destination, and World's Leading City Destination for Manila City. 

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Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco (Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism)

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco expressed joy over these accolades, stating, “We are elated and grateful that Philippine tourism continues to soar to global prominence with tourists declaring their love for the Philippines as the undisputed World’s Leading Beach Destination and World’s Leading Dive Destination, and now World’s Leading City Destination, Manila.”

Frasco continued, “Receiving the Global Tourism Resilience Award is also especially meaningful as this is an affirmation of all the hard work done in the past year to strengthen the pillars of tourism development through convergence and collaboration toward the tourism transformation envisioned by our President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. These accolades are as much a source of Filipino pride as they are a testament to the enormous contribution of tourism to the Philippine economy and global standing.”

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The Philippines winning at the 30th Annual World Travel Awards (Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism)

“With these remarkable triumphs, the Philippines reinforces its position as an unparalleled destination, inviting travelers to explore our captivating shores, vibrant underwater realms, and dynamic urban landscapes as they immerse in our culture and heritage, and create unforgettable memories with the distinct grace and hospitality of the Filipino people. We express our profound gratitude to all who have contributed to this success and we continue to dedicate our wholehearted support to all our tourism stakeholders,” the tourism chief added.

Condé Nast Traveler Top Readers’ Choice Awards cited Boracay as the third top island destination in Asia, while Palawan, and Siargao ranked sixth and tenth, respectively. Meanwhile, TripZilla, the prominent digital travel company in Southeast Asia, bestowed the Destination of the Year Award upon the Philippines, recognizing the country not only for its popular tourist destinations but also for its hidden gems and under-the-radar spots. Also, the Sustainability Leader of the Year for Asia title was given to the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), an agency affiliated with the DOT entrusted with marketing and promotions.

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World Travel Awards Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco Love the Philippines MB 124
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