Oslob town in southern Cebu province has become a prime tourism destination with its “butanding” or whale shark watching activities. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has been nominated in three different categories for the 2023 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Friday.
The UK-based travel magazine nominated the Philippines for the “Most Desirable Country” category, Cebu for the “Most Desirable Region” category, and Palawan for the “Most Desirable Island,” the DOT said in a statement on Friday.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said that this kind of recognition serves as a testament to the “timeless beauty of the country,” as well as the initiatives of both the public and private sectors in building the Philippines as a global destination.
“These nominations, on top of the three million foreign arrivals which we have recently reached, are affirmations that the world welcomes our reintroduction of the Philippines on the strength of its many attributes, highlighting a multitude of reasons to love the Philippines,” said Frasco.
“These recognitions are also a reflection of the relentless efforts made to open up the Philippines again to tourism and travel with a stronger foundation focused on infrastructure, connectivity, digitalization, and an enhanced overall tourism experience,” she added.
Apart from the three nominations, the Philippines can also be voted for specific categories: Adventure, Nature and Wildlife, Culture and Heritage, Gastronomy, and Sustainable Experience.
Anyone can cast their vote by visiting the Wanderlust Website.
Palawan bagged the Gold Award for the “Most Desirable Island” in 2022.