Palawan continues to reap world recognition, this time as the most desirable island by the 21st Wanderlust Travel Award in the United Kingdom.

“The scenery here is heaven on earth with sparkling waters and white sand beaches. One of the most photographed sites is Kayangan, a dazzling freshwater lake with spectacular rock formations above and below the surface,” Wanderlust wrote.

“Elsewhere on the island you can explore one of the world’s longest underground rivers, enjoy a spot of twitching, or fuel up with some delicious cuisine in the island’s capital of Puerto Princesa,” it added.

The country, through the Department of Tourism-Central Visayas Office, also placed 6th among hundreds of special entries in the Wanderlust Sustainability Initiative Category for its Dive7 Program.

The awards were given on Nov. 9 by the prestigious Wanderlust travel magazine, one of the United Kingdom’s longest running publications that has been at the forefront of sustainable travel for 29 years.

Cebu was also nominated this year as Most Desirable Region (Rest of the World) by the award-giving body.

“These awards reflect the efforts to revive the tourism industry that are well underway especially because of the Marcos administration’s thrust towards prioritizing tourism development. Rest assured that we will continue with our mission to herald the Philippines and the Filipino brand to the world, and to ensure the continued sustainability of our islands” Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.

Frasco led the Philippine delegation to the World Travel Market recently held in London.

These new awards add to the long list of recognitions the country has earned even at the height of the Covid-19 crisis.

In June this year, Conde Nast Travel also named the Philippines as part of the 40 Most Beautiful Countries in the World, specifically citing the remarkable cave system of the Puerto Princesa Underground River, the mysteriously uniform Chocolate Hills of Bohol, and the panoramic views of the Banaue and Cordilleras Rice Terraces.

The following month, the renowned Travel + Leisure magazine also named the country’s tourist magnets Boracay, Palawan, and Cebu part of the 25 Best Islands in the World.

Since February 2022, foreign tourists have been traveling to the Philippines, which have reached over 1.9 million as of posting.

TIME Magazine also lauded Boracay as one of the 50 World’s Greatest Places of 2022.

In September, the Philippines won Asia’s leading dive and beach destination, and the historic Walled City of Intramuros as Asia’s leading tourist attraction at the World Travel Awards in Vietnam. (PNA)