10 Best Moments of Philippine Tourism in 2022

(SPOT.ph) Like many industries, Philippine tourism took a big hit during the peak of the pandemic. Airplanes were grounded, airlines had to lay off a chunk of their crew members, and establishments in the hospitality industry had to tighten their belts. But as borders slowly reopened in 2022, the return of tourists to the country proved that the Philippines is a force to reckon with when it comes to tourism. Below, we list down a few of the most noteworthy moments that spell promise for our archipelago. 

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Here are the best moments of Philippine tourism in 2022:

Masungi Georeserve wins SDG Action Awards

For their efforts in" transforming watersheds to fight deforestation through geotourism," specifically in the southern Sierra Madre range, the team behind the Masungi Georeserve conservation was recognized at the 2022 United Nations SDG Action Awards. The Masungi Georeserve is a conservation area conceptualized to fight illegal logging and land-grabbing activities prevalent in the area in the late 1990s.

Their citation reads: "Our judges commended this youth-led movement that protects our most precious natural resources, for being strong and bold enough to participate in national legislative inquiries and direct lobbying. They commended the team for going above and beyond through their engagement with the general public; the creativity of their successful storytelling, and expressed deep admiration for the courage and engagement of these activists, rangers, and passionate environmental defenders. It recognizes the importance of building allies through lobbying and tourism campaigns to be central to real sustainability. This deeply holistic change is how sustainable change happens."

Philippines finally bags "World's Leading Beach Destination" title

Since 2013, the Philippines has always been nominated for the "World's Leading Beach Destination" title in the annual World Travel Awards. But we've lost to Turks and Caicos, Maldives, Galapagos, Jamaica, and Portugal in the last decade. This year, however, our archipelago of more than 7,000 islands is finally hailed as the World's Leading Beach Destination at the 29th World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony held on November 11 in Muscat, Oman.

The World Travel Awards was established in 1993 "to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries." It works through nomination and votation by "qualified executives working within travel and tourism and the consumer travel buyer."

Palawan is voted "Most Desirable Island" by U.K.'s Wanderlust

U.K.-based Wanderlust Travel Magazine asked its readers to vote for the places, people, and travel brands that they see fit to be recognized in the Wanderlust Travel Awards. For 2022, Palawan was recognized as the "Most Desirable Island" in the world. "The scenery here is heaven on earth with sparkling waters and white sand beaches," says its citation.

Visitor arrivals hit the two-million mark

The Department of Tourism on November 15 reported that visitor arrivals to the Philippines had reached 2,025,421, with 73.43% composed of foreign tourists. This accounted for more than P100 billion in estimated visitor receipts. That number was reached just a few months after the Philippines relaxed its border restrictions to foreign travelers in February.

Local airlines announce new flight routes

Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia—three of the country's major commercial airlines—all opened new domestic routes in 2022. This allowed more locals and tourists to visit our many islands and check out different tourist destinations, especially the ones near newly opened or renovated airports like Loakan Airport in Baguio City, Clark International Airport in Pampanga, and Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Boutique airlines AirSWIFT and Sunlight Air, likewise, launched new direct flights to Sicogon and Siargao respectively.

Philippine festivals resume the street parties

The Philippines is known for its festivals, which are filled with street dancing, a parade of colorful floats, house-hopping, and buffets along the streets. But since the pandemic prohibited crowd-drawing activities, a lot of these festivals had to take a break. Finally, in 2022, most of them returned with live events. These include the Kadayawan Festival in Davao and the Panagbenga Festival in Baguio.

The Philippines is the "World’s Best Diving Destination"...again

During the regional awarding of the 29th World Travel Awards on September 7 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the Philippines is hailed as Asia's Leading Dive Destination for the fourth time. This latter made the country a top contender for the "World’s Best Diving Destination" title, which the Philippines also won for the fourth time.

Intramuros is "Asia's Leading Tourist Attraction" for 2022

Intramuros was named "Asia's Leading Tourist Attraction" at the 29th World Travel Awards. This is the third time that Walled City bagged this award, which was previously given in 2016 and 2020. In 2020, it also got the "World's Leading Tourist Attraction" title.

Intramuros officially reopened to the public in February 2021 following more than a year of closure amid the pandemic. The first spots that accepted visitors that year were Fort Santiago, Casa Manila, and Baluarte de San Diego.

The Philippines is one of the "40 Most Beautiful Countries in the World"

A Condé Nast Traveler article titled "40 Most Beautiful Countries in the World" included the Philippines. The description mentioned the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, and the rice terraces of the Cordilleras as reasons for this recognition.

Condé Nast Traveler readers rank Boracay as Asia's "Top Island"

Condé Nast Traveler's Readers’ Choice Awards, which is now in its 35th year, named Boracay as the "Top Island" in Asia. The island paradise scored 95.13 from the readers' votes and bested Bali in Indonesia, Koh Samui and Phuket in Thailand, Langkawi in Malaysia, Phu Quoc in Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. Palawan also made it to the list at number eight.