Philippines harvests honors in 2024 World Travel Awards

December 1, 2024 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines garnered four honors at the 2024 World Travel Awards, including first-time awards in two categories, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced. 

For the first time, the world-famous beach spot Boracay Island won as the “World’s Leading Island Destination” this year, beating fellow nominees Jersey in the United Kingdom and Carribean destinations The Bahamas and Mustique in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The DOT also bested its 24 rivals to become the “World’s Leading Tourist Board” – a first for the agency.

Nominees to this category included tourism boards from Belize, Costa Rica, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Madeira in Portugal, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Türkiye, Santa Monica in California, South Africa, Tanzania, Australia, Fiji, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, Vietnam and United Kingdom.

The Philippines was also awarded the “World’s Leading Dive Destination 2024” – the sixth since 2019 – and the “World’s Leading City Destination” for Manila, its second recognition.

As the world’s leading dive destination, the country bested Azores Islands in Portugal, Belize, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Galapagos Islands, Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Maldives, Mexico, St. Kitts and the Islands of Tahiti.

As for the leading city destination category, Manila defeated 23 opponents –Acapulco in Mexico, Bogotá in Colombia, Cancún in Mexico, Cape Town in South Africa, Doha in Qatar, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Hanoi in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Lisbon and Porto in Portugal, London in the United Kingdom, Lyon in France, Marrakech in Morocco, Mazatián in Mexico, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, Nairobi in Kenya, Queenstown in New Zealand, Quito in Ecuador, Santiago in Chile and Las Vegas, Miami Beach and New York City in the United States.

The 2024 World Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final Gala was held on Nov. 24 at the Savoy Palace in Madeira, Portugal.

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco showed the WTA trophies to the participants of a coastal clean-up activity in Anilao in Mabini, Batangas on Friday. The clean-up drive is part of the launch of the Philippine Dive Experience program.

“The accolades reaffirm the DOT’s steadfast commitment to carry out initiatives with sustainability and inclusivity in mind – efforts that have been made possible through the unwavering support of President Marcos and his vision to establish the Philippines as a leading tourism powerhouse in Asia,” Frasco said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Frasco said the DOT was “excited” for the prospect of a regional collaboration among countries in Southeast Asia to promote their respective tourism industries and attract more foreign visitors from areas such as Europe and the United States.

“We meet their excitement to collaborate on a regional level with equal measure as we recognize that Asia as a region is looked at by both (United Nations) Tourism and the World Travel and Tourism Council as having massive potential for growth in the years to come, especially that there is still so much to discover about this region,” Frasco said at the sidelines of the Philippine Dive Experience program launch.

She said the Philippines would sign a memorandum tackling tourism cooperation between the Philippines and Thailand “very soon,” while Malaysia has been “robust” in supporting the DOT’s programs.

“This in response to pronouncements from the ambassadors of Thailand and Malaysia, who joined the DOT event in Anilao, about their willingness to work with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries for tourism,” she added.

According to Frasco, Thai Ambassador Tull Traisorat is looking forward to the launch of more flights from the Philippines to Thailand, which include Cebu to Phuket, El Nido to Ko Samui and Clark to U-tapao in Bangkok.

The flights are in addition to the recently launched Manila to Chiang Mai, Davao to Bangkok, Clark to Bangkok and Cebu to Bangkok flights of Cebu Pacific.

Asked by The STAR if competition with other countries, including the Philippines, was still a concern for tourism promotion, Traisorat said, “I don’t think we are competing… This campaign ‘two countries, one destination’ (aims to promote our) tourism together.”

Malaysia Ambassador Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino said tourism in Southeast Asia could be promoted “through tourism packages that involve a few countries. I think it is really a good way to boost intra-ASEAN tourism,” referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Castelino added that Malaysia, ASEAN chairman in 2025, would lobby for easier access and easier facilitation of visa as a way to boost tourism in ASEAN.