Intramuros, Named World’s Top Tourist Destination for 2020

Just because the world is holding still at the moment, it doesn’t mean travel award ceremonies have stopped, too. In fact, the 2020 World Travel Awards were held recently, where tourist destinations from around the globe were acknowledged in various categories. One of the lucky winners was the walled city of Intramuros in Manila.

Intramuros Named Best Tourist Attraction of 2020

The historic walled area within the prominent city of Manila was rightfully crowned as the top tourist attraction in the world. Intramuros, which is Latin for “within the walls,” has a long and rich history that is definitely worth exploring, especially if you’re a fan of fortifications, Colonial Period history, and World War occupation grounds. The 0.26 sq mile city has a lot to offer, including the Manila Cathedral, Plaza San Luis Complex, Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, and the Intramuros Museum.

Intramuros won against 15 other notable tourist destinations, such as the Great Wall of China, the Grand Canyon National Park in the US, and the Taj Mahal in India.

The Philippines Won for World’s Leading Dive Destination — Again

For the second year in a row, the World Travel Awards organization praised the Philippines as the best place on the globe for professional and amateur divers. The competition for the first spot was intense, given the other eight destinations in the category. Namely, Bora Bora, French Polynesia; Fiji; Great Barrier Reef, Australia; Cayman Islands; Azores Islands, Galapagos Islands, Mexico; and the Maldives.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat expressed her gratitude in an official statement following the award recognition. She thanked the 27th World Travel Awards for recognizing the magnificent dive sites and tourist attractions that the Philippines has to offer, especially a heritage site like Intramuros. Romulo-Puyat went on to say the country is slowly reopening for domestic tourists and is looking to promote inclusive, sustainable, and world-class tourism for all.