Philippine tourism gets a boost from Travel + Leisure
magazine as two popular destinations take the top spots in its annual World’s
Best Awards – World’s Best Island list.
Beating heavy favorites Bali and Maui, Palawan bags the
number 1 spot with a score of 95.04 while Boracay takes second spot with a
score of 93.58.
Palawan was nowhere in the list last year. Its giant leap to
number 1 is a pleasant surprise.
Palawan recently gained massive international attention after
Puerto Princesa Underground River, located in Palawan’s capital city, was declared
one of New 7 Wonders of Nature. Famed to be the world’s longest navigable
underground river, tourists have been flocking to this site since.
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| Inside the Puerto Princesa Underground River |
Located on the northern tip of Palawan, El Nido’s pristine
beaches dotted with ancient limestone cliffs was declared as the country’s best
beach by CNNGo.com.
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| Kayakers passing through limestone formations in El Nido |
On the number 2 spot, the party island of Boracay remains
Philippine tourism’s biggest cash cow taking one-third of international
arrivals. Tourists come to Boracay for its powdery white sand, clear waters, and
awesome nightlife.
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| Boracay sunset |
Here’s the complete Top 10 Islands list
1] Palawan, Philippines - 95.04
2] Boracay,
Philippines - 93.58
3] Maui - 89.83
4] Santorini, Greece - 89.37
5] Prince Edward
Island, Canada - 89.23
6] Bali, Indonesia - 88.70
7] Kauai - 88.50
8] Sicily, Italy - 88.06
9] Koh Samui,
Thailand - 87.43
10] Galápagos - 86.95