Cebu places 7th in top 10 Asian islands

CEBU CITY -- Cebu was named as one of the Asia’s top 10 islands in the annual Readers’ Choice Awards of the international travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler.

Cebu made it to No. 7, with a rating of 75.9. Of the seven criteria, it scored highest in friendliness, with 85.4.

Two resorts of the Shangri-La group in the Visayas also made it in the list of the top 15 resorts in Asia, including Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa, which landed at No. 12.

Also in the list of top 10 islands in Asia are Luzon at No. 3 and Mindanao at No. 10. Luzon received a reader’s choice rating of 78.9, while Mindanao scored 62.8.

Here’s how the magazine’s readers rated Cebu in all seven criteria: friendliness (85.4), lodging (80), ambience (77.7), scenery (75.7), activities (75), beaches (74.3) and restaurants (68.3).

Bali, Indonesia was picked as the best island in Asia, with a reader’s choice rating of 81.8.

Other islands included in the top 10 are Phuket, Thailand; Langkawi, Malaysia; Koh Samui in Thailand; Hokkaido, Japan; Malaysian Borneo; and Lombok in Indonesia.

“This is truly a proud, shining moment for Cebu and all Cebuanos,” Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said in a text message. She said she believes the efforts of the Provincial Government in transforming Cebu and promoting tourism contributed to the results.

“We are happy that our efforts at transforming Cebu through the eGwen Our program Cebu has resulted into this great honor and recognition from the prestigious Conde Nast,” the governor added.

As far as the top 15 resorts are concerned, two properties in the Visayas, both under the Shangri-La brand, also made it.

Shangri-La’s Mactan resort scored 84.8, while its Boracay Resort and Spa landed in eighth place with a reader’s choice rating of 88.5.

The Taj Exotica Resort and Spa in the Maldives is the top resort for the magazine readers. (FMG/Sun.Star Cebu)