The Philippines has won four major awards at the World Travel Awards 2023, a prestigious event that recognises excellence in the global travel and tourism industry.

The country was honoured with the Global Tourism Resilience Award, which is given to destinations that have shown “global leadership, pioneering vision, and innovation to overcome critical challenges and adversity”. The Philippines was one of only five recipients of this inaugural award, which aims to set benchmarks for best practices in tourism resilience.

The country also retained its titles as the World’s Leading Dive Destination and World’s Leading Beach Destination, which it won in 2022. In addition, the capital city of Manila was named the World’s Leading City Destination for the first time.

The awards were presented at a gala ceremony held at the iconic Burj Al Arab in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Friday (Dec. 1, Dubai time).

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said she was “elated and grateful” that Philippine tourism had achieved global prominence with the awards. She said the awards were a testament to the country’s “enormous contribution” to the global economy and standing, as well as a source of pride for the Filipino people.

She also thanked all the tourism stakeholders who had contributed to the success and expressed her “wholehearted support” to them. She invited travellers to explore the country’s “captivating shores, vibrant underwater realms, and dynamic urban landscapes” and to immerse themselves in its culture and heritage.

The awards were received by DOT Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano and Assistant Secretary Maria Rica Bueno, who represented Secretary Frasco at the event.