Slice of heaven: Palawan among world’s trending 2024 destinations

MANILA, Philippines — Palawan was hailed by foreign travel platform Tripadvisor as fourth of seven of the world’s most trending destinations in its Traveler’s Choice Awards Best of the Best 2024.

The website described Palawan as “a slice of heaven, a sliver of an island that teems with exotic wildlife, quaint fishing villages and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.”

It also recommended potential tourists to visit the Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary and the Japanese shipwrecks at Coron Island, “regarded as one of the best dive sites in the world,” as well as take a tour of the Puerto Princesa Underground River.

Tokyo in Japan topped the list of Tripadvisor’s “trending destinations,” followed by Seoul in South Korea, Halong Bay in Vietnam, Palawan, Sapa in Vietnam, Bogota in Colombia and Pattaya in Thailand.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco thanked Tripadvisor for the accolade, which was a “testament to the island’s timeless allure.”

“This singular achievement motivates us to maintain our commitment to sustainable tourism and showcase the beauty of Palawan to the world,” she said.

The award for Palawan would “attract a surge in visitors, providing a boost to the local economy and reinforcing Palawan’s position as a top-tier travel destination,” added Frasco.

As of Dec. 27, 2023, El Nido, one of Palawan’s tourist destinations known for beach, island-hopping and diving, recorded 500,408 tourist arrivals. The El Nido municipal tourism office considered the figure “record-breaking.”

According to the DOT’s office in Region 4-B, Palawan will “welcome a combined number of 28 cruise calls in Puerto Princesa City, Coron, El Nido and Balabac Islands.”