05/01/2013
PH Among World’s Best Tourist Spots For 2013!
MANILA, Philippines – The country’s tourism sector is off to a good start this year with respectable publications and institutions noting the hospitable archipelago among the world’s worthy destinations for 2013.
London-based luxury magazine Condé Nast Traveller cited the Philippines among the top 10 “destinations to watch” this year, with “7,000 of the most heavenly islands in the world.”
The magazine singled out Palawan, our country’s “Last Frontier,” which “ticks all the boxes” namely the “palm-fringed white-powder beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, natural lagoons for wild swimming on Miniloc Island - all of it protected by UNESCO.”
A handful of resorts there are “tasteful and deliberately low-key,” the write-up said.
Bacuit Bay in El Nido, which CNNGo has hailed the best beach and island destination in the Philippines, was also compared to Vietnam’s Halong Bay “only without the tourists – for the time being.”
Also receiving special mentions were private havens Dedon Island in the country’s surfing capital, Siargao in Surigao del Norte, as well as “perennial favorite” Amanpulo in Pamalican Island.
Condé Nast further predicted that although the Philippines is “still not the most obvious beach-holiday destination… it soon will be.”
“Sorry, Maldives... We love you, but we've got a new flame,” it added.
Meanwhile, Boracay in Caticlan, Aklan – a favorite getaway spot for locals, foreigners, and even celebrities, ranked first among the “top options for seeking out relaxation and tranquility,” a survey conducted by Agoda.com, a prime hotel booking site. It bested other popular destinations such as Bali, Indonesia and Koh Samui, Thailand.
A separate survey for “top 10 cities for nightlife” of the same site also put Boracay in third place.
Of course, the Department of Tourism is pleased with these citations, which may well have been bolstered through its extensive campaign “It’s More Fun In The Philippines” launched last year.
“Nakikilala na tayo ng mga global travelers. The next step is to reel them in, so to speak. Kasi nadiyan na ‘yung awareness eh. So kailangan hilahin na sila papunta ng Pilipinas,” Tourism Asst. Sec. B**g Bengzon told “Bandila.”
(From ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ of Manila Bulletin)