Phl secures 3 World Travel Awards titles

The Philippines has secured three honors at the World Travel Awards 2025, celebrating Boracay Island, the City of Manila, and the country’s premier dive sites.

During the WTA Awards Night in Bahrain on Saturday, the Philippines clinched its seventh consecutive win as the World’s Leading Dive Destination 2025; Manila was named the World’s Leading City Destination for the third time; while Boracay earned back-to-back recognition as the World’s Leading Luxury Island Destination 2025.

“These World Travel Award distinctions raise our country’s visibility and encourage the millions of Filipinos who work in tourism and contribute daily to our national development,” Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.

She described the victories as milestones that reflect both public support and global industry recognition, strengthening confidence in the country’s flagship tourism strengths under the Marcos administration.

As the World’s Leading Dive Destination 2025, the Philippines bested 12 global contenders, including the Azores Islands of Portugal, Belize, Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, Fiji, the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, Mexico, Seychelles, St. Kitts and the Islands of Tahiti.

The country’s capital, Manila, was named World’s Leading City Destination 2025, marking its third consecutive triumph after wins in 2023 and 2024. 

It surpassed Bogotá, Colombia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cancún, Mexico; Cape Town, South Africa; Doha, Qatar; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Hanoi, Vietnam; Hong Kong, China; Las Vegas, USA; Lisbon, Portugal; London, United Kingdom; Marrakech, Morocco; Melbourne, Australia; Miami Beach, USA; New York City, USA; Porto, Portugal; Quito, Ecuador; Santiago, Chile; Seattle, USA; and Sydney, Australia.

The distinction reflects the capital’s strengthened cultural landscape, culinary offerings, heritage districts, and improved readiness for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.

Boracay defended its title as the World’s Leading Luxury Island Destination 2025, prevailing over Jersey, Mustique in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Bahamas. 

The win spotlights Boracay’s enhanced visitor experience, sustainability practices, and its mix of high-end accommodations and services shaped by community engagement.

“These recognitions truly belong to our nation’s tourism workforce. We acknowledge the efforts of our dive professionals, Manila and Boracay tourism stakeholders, and our partners across the regions as we commit to sustaining collaboration to build a more competitive and resilient tourism landscape for the Philippines,” the Tourism chief added.

Earlier this October, the Philippines also clinched multiple honors at the 2025 World Travel Awards Asia and Oceania Gala in Hong Kong. 

The awards included Asia’s Leading Dive Destination, Asia’s Leading Beach Destination, Asia’s Leading Island Destination, Asia’s Leading Luxury Island Destination for Boracay, Asia’s Leading Tourist Board for the Department of Tourism, and Asia’s Leading Meetings and Conference Destination 2025 for Clark Freeport Zone.

Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards are regarded as among the highest distinctions in the global travel and tourism industry.