Travel + Leisure, the top U.S.-based travel magazine, has officially awarded Palawan as Overall Top Island and Top Island in Asia for 2013. The awards were given at the awarding ceremony for Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards held in New York City on July 18.
Deputy Consul General Ma. Theresa Dizon-de Vega and Consul Zaldy Patron received the awards on behalf of the Philippine Department of Tourism.
Placing second to Palawan in both the Overall Top Island and the Top Island in Asia categories was Boracay, winner of 2012 Top Island Award.
Palawan also bested the likes of Maui, Hawaii; Santorini, Greee; Prince Edward Island, Canada; Bali, Indonesia; Kauai, Hawaii; Sicily, Italy; Koh Samui, Thailand; and Galapagos, Ecuador in getting the much-coveted Top Island Award.
On the other hand, Discovery Shores in Boracay was chosen as Top Hotel Spa in Asia and Top Family Hotel in Asia.
The World’s Best Awards 2013 issue of Travel + Leisure magazine has this to say about the latest feats of the Philippines in travel and tourism industry: “Meanwhile, the Philippine Islands have officially arrived. Palawan came in at No.1 Island Overall (and in Asia), while Boracay was No. 2 in both categories. Discovery Shores Boracay also took No. 1 in top Asian Hotel Spas.”