By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
The Philippines is indeed blessed with awe-inspiring wonders that can be found nowhere else in the world, from seas overflowing with marine life to sceneries that invite one to take in the sights and sounds of nature—away from the chaos of urban life.
It was in this vein that the humble archipelagic nation marked its eighth consecutive year as Asia’s Leading Dive Destination at the World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2026, held at CROSSROADS Maldives on September 27.
In the exhaustive nomination, the Philippines bested Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand to take home the prestigious and highly coveted recognition.
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said in a statement, “Our goal is to make diving and other water-based activities safer, more accessible and easier for travelers to experience, supported by more efficient services and better connected destinations.”
Moreover, the 7,640-island nation also earned the title of Asia’s Leading Island Destination 2026, beating entries from Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Timor-Leste.
San Fernando City, Pampanga was also recognized as Asia’s Leading Cultural City Destination, as it overtook the cities of Beijing (China), Delhi (India), Hue (Vietnam), Kyoto (Japan), and Seoul (South Korea), which honors the rich heritage, culinary prowess, and festivals of the Kapampangan metropolis that has significantly contributed to Philippine culture.
Filipino hospitality and world-class services also took to the skies, as flag carrier Philippine Airlines took the title of Asia’s Leading Cultural Airline 2026, besting multiple nominees from various Asian countries.
Rounding off the high-profile wins in the Asia-level category were the recognition of Boracay Island as Asia’s Leading Luxury Island Destination, and the Department of Tourism as Asia’s Leading Tourist Board—with the latter doubling down on tourism ambassadors BINI and SB-19 to bring Filipino music, culture, and tourism to the international stage.
Secretary Mathay added, “At the same time, we will continue working to enhance safety and security for both local and international travelers, while investing in the training and education of our tourism frontliners in our dive and beach destinations.”
Other awards bagged by various tourism industry players include the following:
- Savoy Hotel (Asia’s Leading Airport Hotel)
- Amanpulo (Asia’s Leading Private Island Resort)
- Discovery Primea (Asia’s Leading Business Hotel)
- Admiral Hotel Manila – MGallery (Asia’s Leading Design Hotel)
- Ascott Bonifacio Global City Manila (Asia’s Leading Serviced Apartments)
- City of Dreams Manila (Asia’s Leading Casino Resort)
- Fili Hotel Bridgetowne (Asia’s Leading New Luxury Hotel Development Project)
- Okada Manila (Asia’s Leading Entertainment Resort)
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards recognizes excellence across the global travel, tourism, and hospitality industries through regional and global awards. Regional winners advance to the WTA Grand Final, where they compete with winners from other regional heats for the World categories.
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