More than 80,000 cruise ship tourists have visited the Philippines so far this year, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said Thursday.
"More international cruise ships are now back on the shores of the Philippine islands after easing COVID-19 travel restrictions with the country being hailed as the Best Cruise Destination in Asia," PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said.
"It is good that the passengers can now experience again the warmth of the Filipino culture and the hospitality of the people receiving them," said Santiago.
In October, the World Cruise Awards named the Philippines as Asia's best cruise destination in 2023.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco hailed the award, describing the recognition as a "notable achievement."
"It marks the first time the Philippines has received the recognition, building the country's reputation as an emerging powerhouse in the global cruise and tourism sector," said Frasco.
In 2019, before the pandemic struck, cruise ships brought nearly 214,000 passengers to the country.
xinhua
