BORACAY and Palawan were recognized as among the best islands in Asia, according to travelers.
Condé Nast Traveler, a luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, released on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, the list of best islands in Asia for the 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards.
In first place was Boracay with a rating of 95.13 percent. Palawan ranked eighth with a rating of 88.99 percent.
Included on the list were Bali, Indonesia (second); Koh Samui, Thailand (third); Langkawi, Malaysia (fourth); Phuket, Thailand (fifth); Phú Quốc, Vietnam (sixth); Sri Lanka (seventh); Okinawa & Ryukyu Islands, Japan (ninth); and Phi Phi Islands, Thailand (10th).
Cebu's Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa also ranked 20th in the Top Resort in Asia category, along with Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort (fifth) and El Nido Resort–Pangulasian Island (eighth).
The Philippines was also in the 30th spot in the Top Countries in the World category.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) celebrates the Philippines' back-to-back wins in the said awards.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said that the department is grateful for the recognition, which is based on the opinions and experiences of travelers from all over the world.
“Recognitions such as these affirm our efforts to herald not only our country’s natural wonders but also our readiness to become the premier tourist destination in Asia. The department is one with all our tourism stakeholders, from the local government units, private sector partners, and our fellowmen in celebrating these victories for the Philippines from Condé Nast Traveler," she added.
Frasco assured travelers visiting the country that the government is doing its best to uphold best practices for health and safety amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
“With the relaxation of the Philippines’ mask mandate and our efforts towards the continuous review and recalibration of the country’s existing health and safety protocols, taking into consideration the current health situation, and benchmarking on the best practices of Asean countries, our tourists can now all the more enjoy our nature-based tourism destinations like Boracay and Palawan all over the archipelago while still being assured that their health and well-being remain our priority,” the Secretary said.