At A Glance
- The Philippines earned three nominations in the 24th Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards.
- Cebu and Palawan were cited in regional and island categories.
- Public voting is open until October 27; awarding is on November 5 in London.
The Philippines received three nominations in the 24th edition of the UK-based Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards as its international tourism profile strengthened through the efforts of the Department of Tourism (DOT), the agency reported Tuesday, July 15.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said the nominations reflect the DOT’s sustained efforts to position the Philippines among the world’s leading travel destinations.
The country is shortlisted for “Most Desirable Country (Worldwide),” while Cebu and Palawan are recognized under the “Most Desirable Region (Worldwide)” and “Most Desirable Island (Worldwide)” categories, respectively.
Wanderlust Magazine, the United Kingdom’s longest-running travel publication, also announced that the Philippines may be considered in subcategories under Most Desirable Country, which include Culture and Heritage, Nature and Wildlife, Adventure, Gastronomy, and Sustainability.
“These nominations inspire not only us in the Department of Tourism, but also everyone in our country’s tourism sector to persist in our mission to share with the world the Philippines’ beauty in terms of nature, heritage, and culture, and also the warmth of our people,” Frasco said.
She encouraged Filipinos and international supporters to cast their votes by visiting https://wanderlusttravelawards.com and to follow Wanderlust’s official Facebook and Instagram pages for updates.
Wanderlust said the winners will be determined through public voting, with more than 200,000 responses expected this year.
Voting runs until October 27, while the awarding ceremony will take place on November 5 at the National Gallery in London, United Kingdom.
Frasco added that the DOT remains committed to securing international recognition through credible global platforms to enhance the Philippines’ visibility and support tourism-driven economic growth.