THE PHILIPPINES was named Asia’s Best Cruise Destination 2023 by the World Cruise Awards, the Department of Tourism (DoT) said on Monday.
In a statement, the department said: “This… is a big win for Philippine tourism as it reflects a resounding global preference for our island destinations,” Tourism Secretary Christina G. Frasco said.
The Philippines was named the winner on Sunday in Dubai. Other candidates were India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The Philippines is projected to receive 128 port calls this year across 33 destinations, which are expected to bring in more than 101,000 passengers and 50,000 crew.
The cruise ships calling at Philippine ports are the Seabourn Cruise Line’s Seabourn Encore; Silver Cruises’ Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper; MSC Cruises’ MSC Poesia; The Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth; Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel; Coral Expeditions Australia’s Coral Adventurer, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ MS Seven Seas Explorer, Windstar Cruises’ MS Star Breeze; AIDA Cruises’ AIDAbella, and various vessels from Blue Dream Cruise and Oceania Cruises.
“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,” Ms. Frasco said.
She added that the department will continue to promote lesser-known destinations to expand the cruise tourism portfolio.
“We are grateful that the country’s potential to offer exceptional cruise experiences is now acknowledged on a global scale,” she said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile
