TripAdvisor recognizes Boracay, El Nido beaches as ‘best’ in Asia

WORLD travelers have once more recognized Boracay Island’s White Beach and El Nido’s Nacpan Beach among the best beaches in the world.

The recognition was recently published in TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice 2021 Best of the Best Awards’ Top 25 Beaches, with Boracay and El Nido ranked 12th and 18th, respectively, in the Asian category. Agonda Beach in India was named the top beach in Asia.

Citing a traveler review, Boracay recognized for its “calm, warm waters, gently sloping sand. Very relaxing. Possibly the most beautiful beach in Asia.” Nacpan Beach was cited for its “long coastline, golden sand, beautiful crystal waters and a completely virgin landscape make a visit to this place unforgettable!”

TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel platform which is regularly consulted by travelers everywhere for its reviews of destinations and things to do. To determine this year’s awardees, TripAdvisor counted the number of times users “saved” these beaches on their accounts, and considered the quality and quantity of the reviews. 

In a news statement, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said, “The TripAdvisor recognition is all the more heartwarming as ‘sun and beach’ have always been the country’s best tourism products. Boracay and El Nido, Palawan, were among the first destinations we opened up to leisure tourism.”

In a recent online survey published by the Department of Tourism (DOT) with the Asian Institute of Management, and Guide to the Philippines, travelers  now prefer outdoor activities like going to the beach, hiking, and biking.

The future management over Boracay Island is currently being discussed in the Lower House, where a substitute bill establishes a new authority that has the makings of a powerful government-owned and -controlled corporation. (See, “Dominguez nixes proposed Boracay authority’s roles,” in the BusinessMirror, March 2, 2021.)

DOT supports reopening of Siquijor, Negros Oriental

Meanwhile, Romulo Puyat recently traveled to Siquijor and Negros Oriental as they prepare to reopen to domestic tourism. As of February 15, the DOT has accredited 962 accommodation establishments in Central Visayas, 37 of which are in Siquijor, and 77 in Negros Oriental. 

“As the DOT bids to fully reopen Siquijor to tourism and revitalize this sector, we continue to seek regular discussions with provincial and local government leaders and stakeholders, gaining insight into your preparedness to reopen as well as a deeper understanding of how we can best help industry stakeholders and citizens of your communities,” she told stakeholders.

The DOT, with the public and private sectors, will collaborate on promotional branding campaigns, funding of the digital version of the province’s Healing Festival, the continuous implementation of public health and safety protocols, development of tourism products, and enhancement of tourism circuits featuring farm, dive, and ecotourism, among others. 

In Dumaguete City, Romulo Puyat committed to help the province, a major scuba diving destination, in securing a hyperbaric chamber. The DOT will also help the province…