Cebu is 4th best island in Asia in 2009

Cebu does it again! Green Earth Tours and Travel, Inc. salutes the tourism department and most importantly the lovely people of Cebu for helping keep the island fun, lively and tourist-friendly! As a Cebu travel agency handling tours in and around the island, Green Earth Tours and Travel, Inc. is proud to promote all the tourist spots in Cebu and beyond. Below is an article from www.inquirer.net.  Credits to Boboi Costas for the original article.

 

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu ranked no. 4 among Asian island destinations, according to Travel + Leisure magazine, which recently rleased the results of its World’s Best Awards 2009, a listing of the best hotels, airlines, cruises in islands and cities all over the world. No other Philippine city, island, resort, hotel, or airline made it to the listing in other categories. The awards are based on the American magazine’s 14th Readers’ Poll survey conducted from mid-January to the end of March this year.

“An unprecedented number of new names and places made their debuts on this year’s list, sometimes unseating longtime favorites,” says Travel + Leisure editor in chief Nancy Novogrod.

Cebu got a rating of 79.68 points. It ranked behind Bali (87.41), Maldives (84.43), and Phuket (80.93). Respondents were asked to rate the islands based on natural attractions, activities and sights, restaurant and food, people and value. They had to rate a candidate on a scale of 1 to 5 where “1” means poor and “5” means excellent. Novogrod says she was struck by the consistency of the insights of American consumers. “They have a high regard for value and service, brand loyalty and small rewards,” she said.

 

In the Condé Nast Traveler annual Readers’ Choice Survey, Cebu has occupied the seventh spot in the best island destination in Asia/Indian Ocean three times: in 2008 at 70.9, which is two points short of 2007’s 72.3 points and 2004’s 72.8 points. Twice, it has been ranked 8th best island destination: in 2006 with 71.0 points and in 2005 with 69.5 in the same magazine survey. Both Travel + Leisure Magazine and Condé Nast Traveler are American publications based in New York.

 

Tourism Undersecretary Phineas Alburo said the award proves that Cebu Island has a lot to be proud of. “That's good news. It really speaks well of the destination and has erased doubts among travelers. It is a very good development,” Alburo told Cebu Daily News. Alburo said Cebu gets a share of 500,000 international tourists in a year while the number of local tourists exceeds more than 500,000 a year. “Cebu has all the ingredients for an ideal destination,” he said. He cited the island's accessibility with an international airport, natural attractions such as diving and beaches, heritage sites, and the hospitality of the people, making it one of the best destinations in Asia.