CNN has named San Fernando in Luzon and Davao in Mindanao as among the best places to go in its Asia and global travel lists.
On Dec. 21, CNN Travel named Davao City among 18 of Asia’s most underrated places after tapping the international media outlet’s writers to ask where the locals go. Then on Dec. 24, it named the City of San Fernando among the 15 best places to go for Christmas vacations.
Davao City was cited as a “true mosaic of Filipino cultures seen nowhere else” in the Philippines.
CNN cited Davao’s attractions such as its Roxas Night Market with its barbecue and grilled seafood, as well as fresh seaweed salad (lato) and law-uy vegetable soup; and its fruits, particularly the pungent durian “served in all forms from shakes to pies,” and its Kadayawan Festival in August showcasing local products, songs and dances from 11 tribes.
Go-to places are Samal Island, whose beaches and pearl farms are accessible by ferry, surfer spot
Mati, and Mt. Apo, the highest mountain and volcano in the Philippines.
According to the Philippine Information Agency-Davao, the Department of Tourism-Davao recorded 602,483 visitor arrivals as of August 2022, up sharply from 354,518 visitors in the same period in 2021.
Davao City accounted for the bulk or 200,800 of these tourist arrivals, followed by Davao del Norte, 166, 853; Davao de Oro, 115,354 arrivals; Davao Oriental, 106,143; and Davao del Sur 13,333. No data was available for Davao Occidental.
The other 17 destinations that made it to the list were Ipoh City, Malaysia; Isaan, Thailand’s northeast; Leshan City, China; Skardu district, Pakistan; Nikko City, Japan; Dalat City, Vietnam; Meghalaya state, India; Palau Ubin island, Singapore; Samosir Island, Indonesia; Pakse City, Laos; Tengchong City, China; Gogunsan Islands, South Korea; Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam; Kenting, Taiwan; Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia; Jaffna, Sri Lanka; and Bangladesh.
On the other hand, San Fernando, capital city of Pampanga in Central Luzon, was named among the 15 best places to go for Christmas vacations.
CNN Travel cited San Fernando’s Giant Lantern Festival from Dec. 17 to Jan. 1, saying its parol (lanterns) mirror “psychedelic kaleidoscopes, brilliant stained glass windows, prismatic pinwheels or oversized snowflakes.”
San Fernando marked its 114th giant lantern competition this year, with 10 villages showcasing lanterns each as tall as 20 feet and lit up with thousands of colorful bulbs.
Other destinations cited in the global list as traditionally offering the best Christmas holiday atmosphere were Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Bath, England; Barcelona, Spain; New York City, USA; Nairobi, Kenya; Nuremberg, Germany; Bogotá, Colombia; Malta; Quebec City, Canada; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Salzburg and Oberndorf, Austria; Strasbourg, France; and Queenstown, New Zealand.