Manila Bulletin: PH tourism industry vies for World Travel Awards

The Philippine tourism industry takes pride in the five major nominations at this year’s renowned World Travel Awards.

Established in 1993, World Travel Awards is the travel industry’s most prestigious awards programme, rewarding leaders in the tourism, airline, hotel and hospitality sectors around the world. 

Under the Asia category, the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) is vying for the 2020 Asia’s Leading Tourist Board.

Cebu is competing for Asia’s Leading Wedding Destination, while the walled city of Intramuros is nominated for Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction. 

Other major nominations garnered by the Philippines, include the 2020 Asia’s Leading Dive Destination and Asia’s Leading Beach Destination. 

The remaining nominations also include: Abaca Boutique Resort in Mactan Island, Cebu as Asia’s Leading Boutique Beach Resort and Asia’s Leading Boutique Resort; Discovery Primea Philippines as Asia’s Leading Business Hotel; City of Dreams Manila as Asia’s Leading Casino Resort and Asia’s Leading Fully Integrated Resort; luxury island resort Amanpulo in Palawan as Asia’s Leading Family Villa Resort and Asia’s Leading Private Island Resort; Raffles Makati Residences as Asia’s Leading Hotel Residences; the Farm at San Benito in Batangas as Asia’s Leading Retreat; and Ascott Bonifacio Global City Manila as Asia’s Leading Serviced Apartments. 

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), DOT’s marketing arm, joins the DOT in taking pride in the said nominations. 

“These nominations affirm the value of what we, in partnership with our stakeholders, have accomplished in developing and promoting our destinations in a responsible manner and in a way that provides our visitors diverse, fun and meaningful experiences,” TBP chief operating officer Atty. Maria Antonette Velasco-Allones told the Manila Bulletin in a text message. 

“And beyond sustaining pride in our places, we commit to to put people at the core of our national tourism development agenda,” she added. 

The last day of voting for the Asia category is on September 24.

In 2019, the Philippine tourism department was recognized as Asia’s Leading Tourism Board, beating 11 counterparts from other countries and it also garnered the award as Asia’s Leading Dive Destination. 

This year, the World Travel Awards Grand Tour features regional gala ceremonies per continent and regional winners will then compete head to head in the corresponding world categories. 

The winners will be announced on the night of the World Travel Awards Grand Final in Moscow, Russia.