World Journey Awards, the main authority that recognises and rewards excellence in tourism, has revealed its Asia and Oceania 2021 winners.
The Philippines has a lot to rejoice, having been recognised as among the many greatest within the area by voters.
Right here Breaking Journey Information speaks to Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, minister of tourism for the Philippines, to learn the way it feels to have received.
Breaking Journey Information: Congratulations in your victory on the World Journey Awards – with the Philippines having been honoured with the titles of Asia’s Leading Beach Destination and Asia’s Leading Dive Destination. How does it really feel to have received?
Bernadette Romulo-Puyat: That is the fifth time that the Philippines received as Asia’s Main Seaside Vacation spot and the third time as Asia’s Main Dive Vacation spot.
However yearly that we win is particular as a result of it not solely proves the distinctive fantastic thing about our islands, but in addition validates our sustainable efforts in creating and selling our pure locations.
These awards are much more significant throughout these difficult occasions as they’re manifestations of the enduring cooperation that now we have with our tourism stakeholders and business in direction of restoration.
BTN: What’s it that makes diving within the Philippines so particular – what do you suppose attracted the attention of voters?
BRP: The Philippines, recognised because the centre of world marine biodiversity, is dwelling to biologically various marine and aquatic assets.
The Philippines “has all of it,” from the smallest critters to pelagic animals, there’s a dive spot for each sort of diver, whether or not you might be an underwater photographer, a dive fanatic or a newbie.
Diving within the Philippines affords all kinds of unimaginable sights and experiences like exploring caves and World Struggle II shipwrecks, drifting by means of large reef partitions teeming with marine life, and even blackwater diving, an excessive form of evening dive over deep oceanic waters.
On prime of all these spectacular underwater sights, diving within the Philippines is year-round and it’s all in heat, crystal clear waters with nice visibility.
With diving alternatives that appeal to divers with a variety of pursuits, distinctive service from well-trained and skilled dive professionals and locals, and real Filipino hospitality, the Philippines actually is dwelling to a number of the world’s greatest scuba diving.
BTN: How will you be utilizing the award to advertise the Philippines as we head into 2022?
BRP: These awards will certainly enhance our efforts to maintain the Philippines a top-of-mind vacation spot for vacationers everywhere in the phrase as we await the resumption of worldwide leisure journey to the nation.
Solar and seashore, in addition to diving, are amongst our prime tourism merchandise, and now we have additionally developed new tourism circuits which can be attuned to the brand new regular journey preferences.
These recognitions make the Philippines a longtime seashore and dive vacation spot, and will be our jump-off level in selling new choices, along with our efforts to make sure compliance with international well being and security requirements.
BTN: Lastly, are you able to inform us slightly in regards to the temper among the many tourism sector within the Philippines – the place is the vacation spot with the restoration from Covid-19?
BRP: Tourism has been a big pillar of Philippine financial growth over the previous ten years for the reason that enactment of the tourism act of 2009, however with the arrival of the pandemic, it additionally turned one of many hardest hit sectors due the restriction on journey and shutting of borders.
Within the midst of this pause, our tourism stakeholders have been very affected person – they perceive that everybody’s well being and security come first, and that the sooner we will curb an infection charges, the sooner we will reopen the business.
At current, now we have been step by step reopening locations to home vacationers in areas which can be deemed prepared based mostly on the evaluation of the Nationwide Activity Power In opposition to Covid-19, and anxious native authorities models.
From what now we have noticed, the Filipinos’ urge for food for journey stays sturdy.
With the Philippines’ strong home tourism base, we stay optimistic in regards to the prospects of tourism regardless of the challenges posed by the pandemic.
The locations which have to this point reopened to vacationers from everywhere in the nation embody the Philippines’ crown jewel, Boracay Island, the award-winning island locations of Cebu, and El Nido and Coron in Palawan, the nation’s browsing capital of Siargao, and different lovely spots close to Metro Manila equivalent to Clark, La Union and Ilocos Norte.
This pandemic has given the Philippines’ tourism business a singular alternative to discover, develop, and strengthen all of the great locations and actions that now we have in an effort to present a greater journey expertise for vacationers within the new regular.
Extra Data
Discover out extra about visiting the Philippines on the official website.
