Manila: Boracay Island in Central Philippines’ Aklan has been listed as one of the world’s best beaches by a reputable website for international travellers.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Boracay Island has been ranked number 1 in the list of the top ten Asian beaches by tripadvisor.com.
“TripAdvisor (www.tripadvisor.com), a travel website that assists customers in gathering travel information, posting reviews and opinions of travel-related content and engaging in interactive travel forums, chose Boracay over Maldives (2nd) and Koh Phangan in Thailand (3rd) for its powdery white sand, affordable accommodations and courteous and hospitable people,” the statement said.
According to tripadvisor.com might be small, but its beauty and tourist amenities makes it worthy of visiting.
“At only 4.5 miles long, Boracay is small enough to navigate by rented bicycle or motorbike. But don’t let its small size fool you—you’ll have several excellent beaches to choose from. Yapak Beach is known for beautiful white shells; White Beach has picture-perfect sunsets; and Balinghai Beach is a secluded spot, perfect for honeymooners. As long as you visit during dry season, you’ll agree this is one of the best beach destinations in the world,” the TripAdvisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Beaches-cTop10-g2) wrote.
Known for its fin white powdery sand, Boracay had been known for decades as a top tourist destination for local as well as foreign travellers.
Almost a decade ago, Boracay suffered from negative image after authorities discovered the presence of above average amounts of bacteria in the waters close to the beach. Authorities remedied the problem by requiring establishments to observe strict wastewater disposal standards.
Valte, in an interview aired over government-run radio station dzRB, said that aside from Boracay, another Philippine travel destination was also mentioned in another popular website.
Valte hailed the ranking of Siargao Island in Mindanao as one of the top surfing sites as compiled by CNNGo (www.cnngo.com), the travel advisory website of the Cable News Network (CNN).
Valte said the CNNGo had placed Siargao as the 8th out of 50 top surfing sites in the world.
The palace spokesperson said the inclusion of Boracay Island and Siargao are testament to the government’s aggressive efforts to boost tourism in the country.
“The Department of Tourism’s campaign to invite more visitors to the Philippines through the ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’ programme was working,” she said.
