Boracay Island in Aklan got on the top of the list as the Best Island in the World.
After failing to make it in the past two consecutive years, Boracay Island was chosen as the Best Island in the World of 2016.
This was based on the votes done by the readers of international magazine Condé Nast Traveler recently.
In 2014, Boracay only ranked 12th and 13th in year 2015. Now, the island bested other world-famous islands such as Bali, Indonesia which is on the 10th place; Tahiti, French Polynesia on the 15th; and Santorini, Greece on the 17th.
“This itty-bitty island (10-square mile) in the Western Philippines is as close to the tropical idyll as you’ll find in Southeast Asia, with gentle coastlines and transporting sunsets. Add in a thriving nightlife scene, and you have one of the top tourist spots in the region,” Condé Nast Traveler wrote.
“The aptly named White Beach is Boracay’s main draw, with powdery white sand and shallow azure water ideal for swimming and snorkeling,” the magazine added.
Aside from Boracay, two other Philippine islands made it to the Top 20 Best Islands in the World list of Condé Nast. Palawan got the second place while Cebu landed to the fifth spot.
This year 2016 is the third time that one of the Philippines more than 1,100 islands topped the World ‘s Best Island list by Condé Nast’s votes of the readers. In 2013 and 2015, Palawan was named the world’s best by the magazine.
More than 300,000 travelers participated in the 29th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards Survey of Condé Nast to vote for their chosen islands.
The awards night was held at the 1 World Trade Center in New York City. Over 100 awardees were presented during the night.
On behalf of the country, Philippine Department of Tourism in New York representative Zenn Pallugna accepted the plaque of recognition.
Pallugna expressed that the international recognition of the country’s top island destinations is a big boost to tourism efforts which seek to encourage more travelers to visit the Philippines.
“The prestigious destination awards we garnered this year from the readers of American travel publications, such as Conde Nast Traveler and Travel+Leisure, reinforce our destinations’ image and ignite curiosity and interest of the affluent American travelers to visit the Philippines,” Pallugna said.
Condé Nast is a premiere media company in the US renowned for producing high-quality content for the world’s most influential audiences that attracts over 164 million consumers.
Maybe so . . . IF Boracay was STILL as PRISTINE as it was during the 80s_ an immaculate maiden undefiled by today’s myopic commercial exploitation that turned it into a veritable island-Ermita (removed)house.