The Philippines won Asia’s Best Cruise Destination 2023 award at the prestigious World Cruise Awards in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the award represents a big win for Philippine tourism as it reflects a resounding global preference for the country’s island destinations.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to all our tourism stakeholders for their hard work and collaboration. The shared tourism governance between government and the private sector espoused by the Marcos Administration is bearing fruit. We are committed to maintain and enhance the Philippines’ standing as an outstanding cruise destination in Asia and the world,” Frasco said.
The World Cruise Awards, an annual program that celebrates excellence in the cruise industry, is affiliated with the renowned World Travel Awards. It recognizes outstanding contributions to the cruise industry and is a highly anticipated event for cruise professionals, media and consumers worldwide.
The Philippines topped other countries that include India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) said the Philippines is expected to have 128 ports of call or cruise calls in 2023 across 33 destinations. The cruise ships are seen to bring in more than 101,000 passengers and some 50,000 in estimated crew.
“The Philippines is world-renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, pristine beaches, diverse marine life and warm hospitality. Our archipelago of 7,641 islands offers a wide array of cruise experiences, from exploring picturesque coastlines and coral reefs to immersing in local culture and traditions,” Frasco said.
Among the arriving cruise ships are the Seaborne Encore, Silver Shadow, MSC Poesia, Queen Elizabeth, Norwegian Jewel, Coral Adventure, MS Seven Seas Explorer, MS Star Breeze, Silver Whisper, Oceania Cruises, Aidabella and the Blue Dream Cruise which made its maiden voyage to the Philippines this month.
“With Boracay, Palawan and Siargao having recently garnered Conde Nast Travel’s Best Islands in Asia Award, the Philippines’ recognition as Asia’s Best Cruise Destination complements and reaffirms our status as a must-visit destination for cruise enthusiasts. This augurs well for our strategic objective to equalize tourism development, as we put the spotlight on lesser-known destinations by expanding our cruise tourism portfolio to include new tourism destinations in time to come,” Frasco said.