Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco announced that the Philippines clinched the coveted Destination of the Year Award at the Routes Asia 2025 Awards held in Perth, Australia.
“These awards are a testament to the strength of our partnerships with different stakeholders in the aviation and travel industry, our unwavering focus on connectivity, and our collective vision of positioning the Philippines as a premier global destination,” Frasco said.
“This recognition reflects the tireless work of the Department of Tourism under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., to elevate Philippine tourism through enhanced air access, infrastructure development, and strategic alliances,” she added.
The Routes Asia Awards celebrate excellence in air service development and marketing across the Asia-Pacific region. Recognized as the “most valuable awards in the route development community”, these awards highlight collaboration between airlines, airports, and tourism authorities. Routes Asia is an annual forum that connects aviation and tourism stakeholders to shape future air services.
The country’s recognition as Destination of the Year Winner underscores the DOT’s strong leadership in expanding the Philippines’ air connectivity through strategic marketing, robust industry collaboration, and sustainable tourism initiatives.
Launched in 2023, the Department’s flagship campaign “Love the Philippines” has fueled demand by highlighting the country’s diverse biodiversity, rich cultural heritage, and emerging destinations. These efforts form part of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028, which outlines enhanced connectivity as a strategic objective to improve access and inclusivity in Philippine tourism.
As of February 28, 2025, 46 new domestic and 47 international routes are in operation, improving access to destinations such as Siargao, Batanes, Panglao, and Coron, among others.
the tourism chief has also been leading aviation-focused efforts in close coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and other government agencies and private partners, advocating for the modernization and retrofitting of key airports nationwide. The Department continues to champion improvements in airport service quality and operational efficiency, while actively lobbying for the restoration of suspended routes, increasing flight frequencies, and mounting more inter-island services to improve regional access.
The country’s low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific received recognition as Best Airline-its second consecutive win.
Meanwhile, the country’s low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific received recognition as Best Airline-its second consecutive win-reinforces its role as a leader in Philippine aviation. In 2024, the airline launched 31 new routes, resumed hub operations in Davao and Iloilo, and expanded to destinations like Kaohsiung, Chiang Mai, and Sapporo. Strengthening its long-term growth, it placed the largest aircraft order in Philippine aviation history-152 Airbus jets worth USD 24 billion-and amplified its global visibility through the Fly to Happy, Fly to the Philippines! campaign.
The Philippines also earned nominations in two key airport categories this year: Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in the 5-20 Million Passengers category, and Clark International Airport (CRK) in the Under 5 Million Passengers category. Both airports were previously recognized-Clark in 2024 and Mactan-Cebu in 2023-for their remarkable growth and route development strategies.
Frasco expressed her gratitude to partner airlines and the broader aviation ecosystem for their continued support.
“We express our deep appreciation to our partner airlines and the entire aviation sector for their firm commitment to improving connectivity and expanding access to and within our archipelagic nation,” she said.
“Air connectivity is vital to the growth of Philippine tourism.”
“Air connectivity is vital to the growth of Philippine tourism. These advancements not only unlock more destinations across the country, but also provide greater ease and convenience for travelers-offering even more reasons for visitors and tourists to Love the Philippines,” Frasco added.
The Routes Asia 2025 Philippine delegation included representatives from the DOT, Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), ACAC (Aboitiz InfraCapital Airport Corporation), Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corporation (LIPAD), Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), and Clark Development Corporation (CDC).
The Destination of the Year Award was personally received by DOT Assistant Secretary Judilyn Quiachon, Director Warner Andrada, Tourism Attache for Australia and New Zealand Purificacion Suanding-Molintas, along with the rest of the DOT delegation during the awarding ceremonies in Perth.
