DOT’s Must-visit destinations for 2018
The Philippines saw an 11.54% rise in tourist arrivals last 2017, thanks in large part to the efforts of the Department of Tourism (DOT) led by Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo. South Koreans topped the list with over 1.3 million visitors, followed by China and the United States.
Marketing efforts such as the recently-revived Bring Home A Friend will help out a lot, but where will you bring that friend from overseas? Cliched as they may be, these destinations will always bring a smile to your friend’s face if they are looking to experience the best of the Philippines:
Banaue Rice Terraces
Ifugao Province, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
The Banaue Rice Terraces are living proof of their ingenuity. While most people would put off a visit to Banaue in favor of the much cooler Sagada, the Banaue Rice Terraces still gives you the best of what the Ifugao are capable of. These 2,000-year-old terraces span the entire Cordillera region and are a testament to how the Ifugao overcame what modern farmers couldn’t: the idea of growing rice without having to level a mountain.
Chocolate Hills
Bohol
There are a couple of urban legends that tell the story of their creation, but the most well-known is that of a giant falling in love with a human who got so jealous of her fiance that he whisked her away only to have her die in his hand. His tears would fall to the Earth, forming the most popular tourist attraction in Bohol.
Boracay
Aklan
What else can we say that hasn’t been said about Boracay? This piece of paradise has been in Conde Nast Traveler’s annual list of the world’s best islands time and again, and seems to have something new every time we look at the island.
Its powdery white sand beaches are its main attraction, along with the number of restaurants and bars that can be found along White Beach. People, however, should look towards the other side of Boracay. Bulabog Beach is the place to be if you want a bit of peace and quiet while kite surfing.
Cebu
This list wouldn’t be complete without the province of Cebu. Dubbed by the DOT as “The Gateway to a Thousand Journeys”, Cebu offers what the entire country does in a nutshell: great weather, the best beaches, crystal-clear waters, and top-of-the-line resorts packed with modern amenities.
Davao
It houses the largest city in the Philippines, has an economy that’s hinged on agriculture (which, technically, the country should be relying on), yet still has waters that can support commercial fishing. It’s also home to one of the liveliest festivals in the country, the Kadayawan sa Dabaw.
Manila
It’s your first point of contact with the Philippines, and (once you wrap your head around the traffic situation) is one of the better cities to be in. Described by the DOT as “a pulsating hub that blends the Oriental with the Occidental, the quaint with the modern, the mundane with the extraordinary,” its most recent addition is Entertainment City, home to the country’s most luxurious integrated resorts.
Palawan
Dubbed as “The Last Frontier,” Palawan boasts of a megadiversity that is hard to find anywhere else. Its towering cliffs, thick green forests, crystal-clear waters, and pristine beaches make up half of the island’s splendor. It’s popular with divers because of its many shipwrecks and is an ideal escape for anyone who wants to spend time away from the grit and grind of the city.
Vigan
Ilocos Sur
Intramuros may be the most accessible old-world city in the Philippines, but nothing compares to what you can see in Vigan. A visit to this small city gives you the feeling of going back in time, with its many ancestral homes, the majestic St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the people’s steadfast belief in their pottery and handloom weaving.
Written by Andronico Del Rosario
Source: Department of Tourism
