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UNDERWATER WONDERS The waters off Panglao Island in Bohol are home to healthy marine life that allows species like whale shark and sardines to thrive. (PHOTO COURTESY OF IAN UY AND KEITH SEPE FROM DIVE TA BAI)
MANILA, Philippines – For the second year in a row, the Philippines was hailed as the world’s top diving destination by the 2020 World Travel Awards.
The award-winning body, which announced its 2020 winners on Friday, also named the walled city of Intramuros in Manila as the world’s top tourist attraction this year.
The Philippines surpassed eight destinations in the world’s leading dive destination category, namely the Azores Islands; Bora Bora, French Polynesia; Cayman Islands; Fiji; Galapagos Islands; Great Barrier Reef, Australia; Maldives and Mexico.
Meanwhile, Intramuros was recognized as the world’s leading tourist attraction for the first time, surpassing 15 other tourist sites such as the Taj Mahal in India, the Grand Canyon National Park in the United States, and the Great Wall of China, among others.
The friendly kalesa ‘kutseros’ or coachmen of the Walled City consider themselves not only drivers but trained tour guides. CHILD JESUS ORBETA
“We are incredibly grateful for the recognition given to the magnificent dive sites of the Philippines and the restored historical heritage of Intramuros at the 27th edition of the World Travel Awards,” said Secretary of Tourism Bernadette Romulo-Puyat in a statement.
“We will continue to promote world-class, inclusive and sustainable tourism, especially as we slowly reopen our attractions to more domestic tourists,” he added.
Secretary of Tourism Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (CONSULTING PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)
Previously, the Philippines also won awards in the Asia category of the 2020 World Travel Awards.
Among these are Asia’s top private island tourist complex awarded to Amanpulo, while Intramuros was recognized as Asia’s top tourist attraction.
According to its official website, the World Travel Awards, established in 1993, aim to “recognize, reward and celebrate excellence in all sectors of the tourism industry.”
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