The Philippines has been voted Asia’s Leading Dive Destination and Asia’s Leading Beach Destination and won 5 other citations at the 27th annual World Travel Awards (WTA) held in a virtual ceremony this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The country scored a total of seven awards in the Asia edition of the WTA out of fifteen nominations announced in August of 2020.

Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat accepted the three major awards at the most prestigious competition for travel industry leaders and partners in a virtual recognition ceremony presented by broadcaster and host Katie Jensen on November 3, 2020.

The Philippines won the following three major awards:

Department of Tourism (DOT) – Asia’s Leading Tourist Board
Philippines – Asia’s Leading Dive Destination
Philippines – Asia’s Leading Beach Destination
This is the Philippines’ second time to win Asia’s Leading Dive Destination following last year’s win at the 2019 World Travel Awards in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam. The country has been winning Asia’s Leading Beach Destination for four times since being nominated continuously in 2006 for the WTA.

“On behalf of the DOT and the people of the Philippines, I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who voted for us in these categories…and to the World Travel Awards, for recognizing our outstanding beaches and awarding the breathtaking beauty of our dive sites. Thank you and Mabuhay,” Secretary Romulo-Puyat said in her video acceptance speech.

The following Philippine establishments and top tourist destinations won the following 4 awards under their respective categories:

Intramuros, Philippines – Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction
Discovery Primea, Philippines – Asia’s Leading Business Hotel
Amanpulo, Philippines – Asia’s Leading Private Island Resort
Asia’s Leading Serviced Apartments – Ascott Bonifacio Global City Manila, Philippines
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards organization is recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of travel industry excellence. The Philippines is still nominated for four major awards at the World edition of the WTA Grand Final set to take place on November 27, 2020, in Moscow, Russia.

The Philippines, known as World’s Best Diving Area, is famous for its spectacular diving spots in Tubbataha Reef and Cebu, which were once again picked by Lonely Planet for their most recommended marine sites for international travelers.

SEND CHEERS in the comments below to the people of the Philippines for winning the World Travel Awards’ Leading Asian Diving, Beach honors.