DESPITE the challenges in the tourism industry, the island of Cebu continues to garner global recognition after it placed 25th in the international travel website Big 7 Travel in its Top 50 Best Islands in the world list.
Released on July 28, 2021, the list placed Cebu 25th and cited it for its “sugar-white beaches, clear emerald waters, hot springs and several jungle waterfalls.”
The list was based on “aggregated scores from previous media results and contributions from the Big 7 Travel editorial team.”
The magazine described Cebu Island as “a tropical paradise in the Philippines; made up of Cebu Island and 167 other islands in the Visayas.”
It also touted “an unforgettable experience” in Oslob on the southern tip of Cebu for whale shark diving.
The magazine also said coconut nectar wine, locally known as tuba, is a must-try and is “best drunk fresh when it is still sweet.”
Palawan also landed on the list, placing second. It was recognized for its “untouched white sandy beaches and tropical jungle.”
Big 7’s Top 10 Best Islands are: (1) Lummi Island, Washington, (2) Palawan, Philippines, (3) Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, (4) Sommarøy, Norway, (5) Korcula, Croatia, (6) Fraser Island, Australia, (7) Pemba Island, Zanzibar, (8) Barbados, (9) Flatey, Iceland and (10) Bora Bora, French Polynesia.
Limited leisure travel
Meanwhile, leisure travel remains prohibited in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu after they were placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) by the government’s Covid-19 task force until Aug. 15, 2021.
Cebu Province, on the other hand, was downgraded to general community quarantine (GCQ) under heightened restrictions until Aug. 15.
In a press release, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat noted that point-to-point travel to areas under GCQ and MECQ shall be allowed without age restrictions subject to an RT-PCR test-before-travel requirement for those below 18 and above 65 years old, and other protocols and restrictions as may be imposed by the Department of Tourism and the local government unit (LGU) of destination.
However, recognizing the threat of a new and more transmissible Covid-19 variant, Puyat made a call for a stricter observance of health and safety protocols while conducting leisure travels.
“Individuals of all ages may still pursue their travel plans, but needless to say, with the threat of the Delta variant, our travelers must practice extra caution and strictly adhere to the rules and guidelines of the LGU of destination,” Puyat said. (JOB)