Palawan and Boracay have once again secured their places on the prestigious Best Islands list in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2024.
According to the T+L website, Palawan achieved a commendable third place, while Boracay followed closely in fourth. The top spot was claimed by Thailand’s Koh Samui, with Bali, Indonesia securing the second position. Completing the top five was Phuket, Thailand.
The list also featured Sri Lanka, Sumba (Indonesia), Penang (Malaysia), Koh Phi Phi (Thailand), and Phu Quoc (Vietnam), rounding out the top ten.
The selection process involved both Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia’s team of editors and contributors from across the Asia Pacific region, as well as public voting, which concluded on March 31, 2024. This marks the second consecutive year that Palawan and Boracay have been recognized in the Best Islands category, having ranked second and fifth, respectively, in the previous year.
Palawan, an archipelagic province in Southern Luzon, is celebrated for its pristine waters, lush landscapes, and white-sand beaches. It is renowned for its sustainable tourism practices. Top destinations in Palawan include Coron, El Nido, and the Puerto Princesa Underground River, which was named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012.
Earlier this year, Palawan was ranked fourth in Tripadvisor’s annual Traveler’s Choice Award Best of the Best, trailing only Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; and Halong Bay, Vietnam. It was also honored as the “Most Desirable Island” for 2022 by a London-based travel magazine.
Boracay Island, located in the municipality of Malay, Aklan, was ranked 10th out of the 25 “Favorite Islands in the World” for 2023, achieving a score of 92.94 according to a survey conducted by Travel+Leisure.
