FAMED SUNSET Boracay Island’s famed sunsets continue to draw tourists who will soon enjoy government subsidy for the required COVID-19 swab test. INQUIRER file photo / JACK JARILLA
MANILA, Philippines — International travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler has announced that the White Beach in Boracay and El Nido in Palawan ranked 2nd and 9th respectively in its 25 Best Island Beaches in the World: 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards list.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday celebrated the achievement, saying that the inclusion of both tourist destinations is a “sheer recognition of [its] unparalleled beauty and uniquely diverse resources.”
“We would like to thank the travelers who voted for our destinations. We draw inspiration from this warm reception and a solid vote of confidence from our satisfied patrons. As our destinations gradually reopen with health and safety measures in place, we will continue our conservation and protection efforts of these areas,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a statement.
Caitlin Morton, contributing editor of Condé Nast Traveler, acknowledged the remarkable and scenic beauty of Boracay and Palawan.
“Boracay is a screensaver brought to life, with dazzling white sand, so-clear-you-can-see-your-toes water, and a lush jungle backdrop, available to anyone willing to make the journey. The island used to fly under the radar with one of the most beautiful beaches in the world—but the secret’s out. Now the three-mile White Beach, with its grottos and beachside dining (and nightlife), is its busiest swath of sand,” Morton wrote
“Shockingly, Palawan remains steadily under the radar, even though it continues to rank highly in our Readers’ Choice Awards. El Nido alone is home to around 50 white sand beaches—it’s impossible to choose just one—all of which are set around dramatic limestone formations and have the finest and whitest sand you’ll ever see. The water is so blindingly blue it makes the Caribbean Sea look murky in comparison. And the sunsets? Well, they’ll ruin you for life. Consider yourself warned,” she remarked.
According to DOT, domestic tourists from areas under the general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) may enter Boracay and El Nido. Visitors are required to follow strict health and safety protocols.
“As a means to make domestic travel more affordable, the DOT, through the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), encourages domestic tourists to avail of the 50 percent subsidized RT-PCR tests. The program, in collaboration with the University of the Philippines – Philippines General Hospital (UP-PGH) and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), brings down the test cost to P900 and P750, respectively. To apply, visit https://www.tpb.gov.ph/rtpcrphtravel/,” DOT said.