Cebu clinches 3rd place in NEWT Awards

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu has secured third place in the Area Category of the prestigious NEWT Awards 2024, reinforcing its reputation as a top-tier travel destination and underscoring the success of the "Love the Philippines" campaign in Japan.

The award was received on January 24, 2025 by Department of Tourism (DOT) Tokyo Office Tourism Attaché Niel Ballesteros on behalf of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco during a ceremony at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo. The recognition was presented by Tomotaka Isono of Reiwa Travel.

Organized by the global travel booking platform NEWT, the awards honor the world's most sought-after destinations, hotels, and flights based on traveler preferences. Rankings were determined by the total value of tour bookings from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024.

Tourism Secretary Frasco commended Cebu’s latest achievement, attributing the accolade to the concerted efforts of local government units, tourism operators, hospitality providers, and community organizations.

The recognition comes amid a surge in Japanese tourist interest in the Philippines. According to data from Rakuten Travel, accommodation bookings in the country during the 2023-2024 holiday season increased by 1.82 times compared to the previous year, marking the second-highest growth rate on the platform.

Additionally, leading Japanese travel company HIS ranked Cebu as the seventh most-booked international destination during the New Year period and placed it fifth in the "Rapid Growth" category, with a 136.8 percent year-on-year increase in bookings.

The DOT attributes this growth to aggressive promotional efforts in Japan, including high-impact marketing initiatives such as the fan meeting of Japanese celebrity Alan Shirahama and a mega familiarization trip for Japanese media and influencers. Collaborations with Japanese travel agencies have also played a key role in boosting awareness of the Philippines as a premier travel destination.

Japan remains one of the Philippines’ largest source markets, ranking third after South Korea and the United States. In 2024, Japanese tourist arrivals recorded a 22.84 percent increase, reaching 444,528 visitors.

With Cebu’s continued recognition on the global stage, the DOT remains committed to further enhancing the country’s appeal to international travelers and sustaining its growth in the tourism sector. — Philippine Star News Service (FREEMAN)