INTERNATIONAL travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, hailed Cebu as the second best island in Asia in their 2019 Readers' Choice Awards survey.

For the magazine's 32nd annual survey, Cebu and the Visayas Islands ranked second next to Boracay which was voted by its 600,000 registered users.

"Located in the center of the Philippines, Cebu draws nearly 2 million travelers annually for its pristine beaches and diving off the island’s northern coast," the article read.

"Spanish and Roman Cathoic influences permeate Cebu City; Basilica Minore del Santo Niño houses a small statue of Christ that was presented by Ferdinand Magellan," it added.

Boracay ranked first while Palawan is in the fourth spot.

Southeast Asia island destinations, Penang in Malaysia ranked third and finally, Bali, Indonesia in the fifth spot. (SunStar Cebu)