Routes Asia names Phl 2025 Destination of the Year

The country’s continuously improving aviation and travel industry has gained commendation from Routes Asia following the clinching of the coveted Destination of the Year tilt at the Routes Asia 2025 Awards held in Perth, Australia.

“This award is a testament to the strength of our partnerships with different stakeholders in the aviation and travel industry, our unwavering focus on connectivity, and our collective vision of positioning the Philippines as a premier global destination,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco after announcing the award received by the country.

“This recognition reflects the tireless work of the Department of Tourism under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to elevate Philippine tourism through enhanced air access, infrastructure development, and strategic alliances,” she added.

The Routes Asia Awards celebrate excellence in air service development and marketing across the Asia-Pacific region.

Recognized as the “most valuable awards in the route development community,” these awards highlight collaboration between airlines, airports, and tourism authorities.

Also, Routes Asia is an annual forum that connects aviation and tourism stakeholders to shape future air services.

The DoT chief said the country’s recognition as Destination of the Year underscores their strong leadership in expanding the Philippines’ air connectivity through strategic marketing, robust industry collaboration, and sustainable tourism initiatives.

Launched in 2023, the Department’s flagship campaign “Love the Philippines” has fueled demand by highlighting the country’s diverse biodiversity, rich cultural heritage, and emerging destinations.

These efforts form part of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023–2028, which outlines enhanced connectivity as a strategic objective to improve access and inclusivity in Philippine tourism.

As of February 28, 2025, 46 new domestic and 47 international routes are in operation, improving access to destinations such as Siargao, Batanes, Panglao, and Coron, among others.

Secretary Frasco has also been leading aviation-focused efforts in close coordination with the Department of Transportation and other government agencies and private partners, advocating for the modernization and retrofitting of key airports nationwide.

The Department continues to champion improvements in airport service quality and operational efficiency while actively lobbying for the restoration of suspended routes, increasing flight frequencies, and mounting more inter-island services to improve regional access.

Meanwhile, the country’s low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific, received recognition as Best Airline—its second consecutive win—reinforcing its role as a leader in Philippine aviation.

In 2024, the airline launched 31 new routes, resumed hub operations in Davao and Iloilo, and expanded to destinations like Kaohsiung, Chiang Mai, and Sapporo. Strengthening its long-term growth, it placed the largest aircraft order in Philippine aviation history—152 Airbus jets worth $24 billion—and amplified its global visibility through the Fly to Happy, Fly to the Philippines! campaign.

The Philippines also earned nominations in two key airport categories this year: Mactan-Cebu International Airport in the 5–20 Million Passengers category, and Clark International Airport in the Under 5 Million Passengers category. Both airports were previously recognized—Clark in 2024 and Mactan-Cebu in 2023—for their remarkable growth and route development strategies.