THE Philippines’ leading tourism destinations are nominated for the World Travel Awards 2023,  and this reflects the growing interest in travel to the country, according to the Department of Tourism.

The World Travel Awards seek to reward and celebrate excellence in all key sectors of the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries.  

Winners will be chosen via online voting.

PH represent

The Philippines is included among the nominees in several categories for Asia.

Intramuros, a historic walled city in Manila, is nominated for Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction.

It is up against 12 other destinations, including the Angkor Temples of Cambodia, the Great Wall of China, and the Taj Mahal in India. 

Cebu is nominated for Asia’s Leading Wedding Destination, competing against Bali, Indonesia, Ko Samui, Thailand, and Langkawi, Malaysia for the title. 

Aside from these, the Philippines is also contending for the recognition of Asia’s Leading Beach Destination for 2023. It won the same award last year. 

The country is also in the running once more for Asia’s Leading Dive Destination, a title it has held since 2019. 

The Department of Tourism is nominated for Asia’s Leading Tourist Board.

Hotels, resorts also in the running 

Several hotels and resorts in the Philippines were also nominated for awards in several categories this year. They are:

• Savoy Hotel Manila- Asia’s Leading Airport Hotel
• Discovery Primea- Asia’s Leading Business Hotel
• City of Dreams, Manila- Asia’s Leading Casino Resort, Asia’s Leading Fully Integrated Resort
• Okada Manila- Asia’s Leading Casino Resort, Asia’s Leading Fully Integrated Resort
• Atmosphere Resorts & Spa- Asia’s Leading Dive Resort
• The Manila Hotel- Asia’s Leading Heritage Hotel
• Belmont Hotel- Asia’s Leading Hotel 
• Raffles Makati- Asia’s Leading Hotel Residences
• Shangri-La Boracay- Asia’s Leading Luxury Beach Resort 
• Amanpulo- Asia’s Leading Private Island Resort 
• The Farm at San Benito- Asia’s Leading Retreat 
• Ascott Bonifacio Global City- Asia’s Leading Service Apartments

Cast your vote! 

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco hailed the inclusion of the Philippines among the nominees and said this bodes well for the country’s tourism sector, which is recovering from the pandemic.

“These recurring nominations clearly manifest the growing global travel demand into the Philippines, one that we aim to sustain in the coming days through the initiatives we have laid out for the tourism industry’s recovery and transformation post pandemic,” Frasco said in a statement.

Voting for the Asia awards opened on February 20 and will end on July 23, 2023. It is open to travel professionals, media, and tourism consumers.

Frasco called on Filipinos and Philippine lovers to cast their votes at the World Travel Awards website. 

“I invite my fellow Filipinos as well as our foreign friends to show some love and help keep the travel momentum for the Philippines. Sign up and cast your votes now,” she said.