Philippines is World’s Leading Beach Destination for first time

The Philippines has been granted the title of 2022’s World’s Leading Beach Destination at the 29th World Travel Awards’ November 11 gala presentation in Muscat, Oman. This is the first time the country has grabbed the top rank.

The Philippines bested nominations which include Jamaica; Greece; Santa Monica, California; Turks and Caicos Islands; Mexico; Thailand; Mexico, Maui; Maldives, and Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands.

The tropical country was also acclaimed as the World’s Leading Dive Destination for a fourth straight year, defeating Azores Islands; Belize; Fiji; Galapagos Islands; Australia’s Great Barrier Reef; Maldives; Mexico; and French Polynesia.

Aside from the World’s Leading Awards, the Philippines also claimed Asia’s Leading Beach Destination and Asia’s Leading Dive Destination for 2022 once again.

This year, the World Travel Awards also recognized three more Philippine establishments: City of Dreams Manila as the World’s Leading Casino Resort; Amanpulo as the World’s Leading Dive Resort; and Ascott Bonifacio Global City Manila as the World’s Leading Serviced Apartments. Intramuros also recaptured its position as Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction.

Siargao was nominated for World’s Leading Island Destination 2022 and Cebu as well for Asia’s Leading Wedding Destination 2022, but they lost to Madeira Islands and Bali, Indonesia, respectively.

The World Travel Awards “acknowledges, recognizes, and celebrates success across all important sectors of the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries,” according to the website. The brand, which is “recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence,” picks from nominees from Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, North America, Oceania, and South America.