Phl ranks 8th in world’s top tourist destinations

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines was ranked the eighth best destination in the world to visit in 2015.

Singapore has clinched the number one spot of the top 10 destinations, according to Lonely Planet’s latest guidebook, a report on ABS-CBNnews.com said.

Namibia, Lithuania, Nicaragua, Ireland, Republic of Congo, Serbia, St. Lucia and Morocco are the other top destinations.

Lonely Planet said the destinations are chosen for their “topicality, unique experiences and ‘wow’ factor.”

“Many would say the time is well overdue for the Philippines to be recognized as the next big travel destination in Southeast Asia,” said Joe Bindloss in an article posted on the Lonely Planet website on Monday.

“With more than 7,100 islands, the Philippines has one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines, fringed by dive-tastic coral reefs, sprinkled with sunbathe-ready white sand, backed by swaying palm trees and dotted with simple resorts of nipa-palm thatched huts,” he added.

The travel guide also cited government efforts to boost tourism, the Filipinos’ penchant for street parades and food festivals and the decision of the European Union to lift the travel ban on flag carrier Philippine Airlines.

The report also cited Bindloss’ article on  the Philippine jeepney. “Try clinging to the back of a jeepney speeding through the crowded streets of Metro Manila,” he wrote.

“Boarding and disembarking from these supercharged vehicles is conducted at break-neck speed, then it’s back into the traffic, horn blaring, music blasting, and on to the next stop,” he added.

Manila was not in Lonely Planet’s top 10 cities for 2015, but the report said a separate Lonely Planet article listed 10 reasons to visit Manila, “despite the crime, pollution, poverty, corruption, overpopulation, and horrendous traffic jams currently associated with the city.”