PHILIPPINES RECEIVES DESTINATION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT ASIA-PACIFIC’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS TRAVEL INDUSTRY EVENT

Philippines Receives Destination of the Year Award at Asia-Pacific’s Most Prestigious Travel Industry Event- The Philippines won the prestigious Destination of the Year Award during the 31st TTG Travel Awards 2022 Ceremony and Gala Dinner held at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre in Bangkok, Thailand on 22 September 2022. Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Millicent Cruz Paredes received the award on behalf of the Philippines.

In her acceptance speech, Ambassador Paredes invited the audience to experience firsthand why the Philippines is the TTG Destination of the Year, and to see, touch and taste for themselves the offerings of over 7,600 islands of the Philippines, with its vibrant culture and the warm hospitality of the Filipino people.

Ambassador Paredes honored the hard work of all the stakeholders of the Philippine travel industry, with the award validating their unwavering commitment and tireless efforts to strengthen the Philippine tourism industry. She also praised their resolve to soldier on toward a Philippine tourism industry that is stronger, better and more worthy of the recognition.

The Destination of the Year is awarded to the most outstanding destination for taking proactive steps and initiatives for the development and promotion of the travel industry. This is the second time the Philippines has received the award, having previously won in 2014.

TTG Travel Awards, organized annually since 1989 by TTG Asia, aims to recognize the best in the travel industry across the Asia-Pacific region. This year’s ceremony, held in person after a two-year hiatus, honored winners in three categories: Travel Supplier Award, Travel Agency Awards, and Outstanding Achievement Awards.

At the awards ceremony, Ambassador Paredes was joined by the Philippine tourism delegation composed of representatives from the Tourism Promotions Board and 16 MICE Exhibitors. END

For more information, visit https://www.bangkokpe.dfa.gov.ph  or https://www.facebook.com/PHinThailand/.

Intramuros named Asia's best tourist draw

(UPDATE) INTRAMUROS, the Spanish-era walled city in Manila, regained its title as Asia's Leading Tourist Attraction at the 29th World Travel Awards (WTA) 2022 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Wednesday.

The Philippines was also named Asia's Leading Dive Destination and Asia's Leading Beach Destination at the same event.

"The Philippines is a beautiful country and you [WTA] having given these awards is such an affirmation to all of our tourism stakeholders and workers who have greatly sacrificed throughout the pandemic," Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.

"We look to the future with hope that through our combined efforts under the Marcos Administration that has identified tourism to become a major pillar for economic recovery, not only will we survive the pandemic but we will thrive, we will endure and we will get back stronger than ever," Frasco said.

The Philippines has won the WTA title of Asia's Leading Beach Destination for the sixth time, defeating India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

The country has also been named Asia's Leading Dive Destination for four years in a row, beating Malaysia and Thailand.

In winning the best tourist attraction award, Intramuros outshone other destinations like the Angkor Temples in Cambodia, Borobudur Temple Compound in Indonesia, Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, Sengan-en and Shoko Shuseikan Museum in Kagoshima, Japan, the Taj Mahal in India, teamLab SuperNature in Macau, The Great Wall, The Forbidden City, and Terracotta Warriors in China, Tokyo Imperial Palace in Japan and Victoria Peak in Hong Kong.

"We are ready to receive you in the Philippines. We look forward to your visit, and I invite each and every one of you to visit our beaches, our dive sites and our tourist destinations," Frasco said in a pitch to tourists.

"May this recognition remind us that all of us have a shared responsibility towards the success of the tourism industry, not only in our country but in Asia and the world. We remain committed to purveying the Filipino brand of hospitality and to heralding the Filipino brand to the world," she added.

Tourism stakeholders urged to innovate

The London-based World Travel Awards, known as the "Oscars" of the travel industry, was founded in 1993 to recognize achievements in the travel and tourism sector at national, regional, and global levels.