The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes the inclusion of El Nido, Palawan, in the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) list of eight best beach escapes in the world, an encouraging recognition amid rising fuel costs and broader global economic uncertainties affecting travel behavior.
This distinction reaffirms El Nido’s enduring appeal as a classic go-to destination, offering world-class natural beauty and meaningful travel experiences that continue to inspire visitors from around the globe.
Offering both adventure and relaxation, El Nido has been a favorite tropical attraction for travelers craving for its pristine white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and breathtaking limestone cliffs.
DOT Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Secretary Verna Buensuceso highlighted that the citation only reinforces Palawan’s global acclaim, bannering it as a premier tourist spot for exciting travel experiences.
“Citations such as these affirm the beauty and prestige of the many treasures that we boast to the world. This recognition proves that El Nido, like our other coastal destinations, can offer the same level of quality vacations as our global counterparts,” OIC-Secretary Buensuceso said.
Hidden Gems
BBC journalist Francis Augustin, who has personally visited El Nido with his peers, specifically praised the coastal destination for the wide range of water activities that could be done to explore the island’s hidden beaches and lagoons.
“My family, friends, and I booked a tour with a local speedboat crew, spending the day cutting across the crisp blue waters of Bacuit Bay in search of secluded beaches and lagoons. Among these limestone island clusters, we swam, kayaked, and snorkelled before anchoring in a solitary beach cove where our guides set up a meal of traditional Filipino meat and seafood dishes,” the article reads.
Augustin was also all praises for other beaches in El Nido’s mainland, including Las Cabanas, Lio, and Corong Corong, where travelers can dip, sit back, and enjoy the golden sunset.
Apart from these traditional island experiences, the DOT is also strengthening El Nido’s position as an emerging cruise tourism spot following the recent port of call of the luxury liner MV Luminara in the coastal town this January.
Carrying over 200 tourists onboard, the cruise visit provided a gateway for travelers to explore other parts of Palawan, including Coron and Puerto Princesa.
A result of a stringent selection process, the BBC’s recommendation list banks on firsthand experiences of the broadcast company’s own writers, trusted travel enthusiasts, and leading sustainable travel authorities.
The list favors unconventional, under-touristed, and sustainable destinations that allow visitors to both relax and engage authentically with locals and communities.
El Nido now joins other world powerhouse beach destinations in New York, Italy, Puerto Rico, India, St. Maarten, Scotland, and Tasmania. (By DOT)
