Philippines surpasses Indonesia, Thailand as Asia's leading beach destination

By Hoang Vu September 4, 2024 | 08:01 pm PT

A beach on the holiday island Boracay in the Philippines, April 25, 2018. Photo by Reuters

The Philippines, boasting a coastline stretching over 36,000 kilometers, has surpassed Indonesia and Thailand to be crowned "Asia's Leading Beach Destination" at this year's World Travel Awards.

Last year, Indonesia held the title, while Thailand was recognized in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019.

Beach tourism is a significant contributor to the Philippine economy, driven by the country's tropical climate and its geography, which includes over 7,000 islands.

At the awards ceremony on Tuesday, the Philippines was also honored as "Asia’s Leading Island Destination."

Boracay, a small island spanning seven kilometers and located more than 300 km south of Manila, was voted "Asia's Leading Luxury Island Destination."

Additionally, Cebu City in the Philippines was named "Asia's Leading Wedding Destination."

The World Travel Awards, established in 1993, recognize excellence in the travel and tourism industry and are often referred to as the "Oscars of the travel industry." These annual awards are determined by votes from both travel industry professionals and the public.