MANILA, Philippines — The Palace welcomed another recognition for the country’s tourism sector after it was named “a must-see destination in 2015” by travel guide publisher Lonely Planet.
“Ikinagagalak natin ‘yan sapagkat talaga namang ikinararangal ng ating bansa ang pagkakaroon ng pinakamagagandang isla at magagandang natural endowments kaya naman dinarayo ito ng mga mamamayan mula sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo,” Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said in a radio interview Saturday.
“At bukod pa riyan, ang likas na pagiging mabait at pagiging hospitable ng ating mga kababayan, na kung saan ay talagang ipinararamdam sa mga bumibisita na parang hindi sila umalis sa kanilang tahanan o bayan. At bukod pa riyan, it’s really ‘more fun in the Philippines,'” he told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
Lonely Planet, the largest travel book guide publisher, named the Philippines as one of the best countries to visit in 2015.
The travel guide publisher ranked the Philippines eighth in its yearly “Best in Travel – Countries” noting that the country’s placement is long overdue.
Lonely Planet praised the country’s coral reefs, coastlines, and also noted the Philippines’ love of street parades, food festivals, and live musical events, which gave the country a “cabaret atmosphere” almost every night.
Other countries in the Lonely Planet’s “Best in Travel” list include Singapore, Namibia, Lithuania, Nicaragua, Ireland, Republic of Congo, Serbia, St. Lucia and Morocco. PND
