Manila hailed as ‘thriving again,’ ranked 34th best city in the world for 2022 — Time Out index

(FILE) Visitors have their souvenir photos taken by the Gate of Fort Santiago. The Fort is among the few tourism/historical sites finally opened to the public in Intramuros, Manila, during the general community quarantine period. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines – Manila was the 34th best city in the world for 2022, according to the results of the Time Out Index 2022, which was published by the Time Out global magazine,  and was shared by the Department of Tourism, Culture, and Arts of Manila on Wednesday.

The index quizzed 20,000 city dwellers worldwide “about life in their hometown right now” to “create a global snapshot of city living, and point people in the direction of the places locals are really raving about.”

“The legacy of Chinese, Spanish, and American influences makes Manila an underrated hub for art and culture, with unique customs and cuisine to boot,” the index stated in its section about Manila.

“The pandemic brought the longest lockdowns, cruel liquor bans, and the demand for spacewear-like face shields, but a strong vaccine drive has helped this megacity stay afloat,” it added.

According to the index, Manila was voted third most resilient in this year’s survey.

It also noted that “not a single respondent described the city as rude – instead, it was admired by many for the welcoming and infectious smiles of its people.”

“The city really is thriving again. Let Manila entertain you as it has before with its high-end shopping malls, eclectic contemporary art galleries and the edgy music venues of the south,” the index stated.

Edinburgh in Scotland topped the survey, followed by Chicago, Medellin, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Prague, Marrakech, Berlin, Montreal, and Copenhagen. – Christine Annie Asistio, INQUIRER.net intern

/MUF/abc