Manila – Intramuros, the historic Walled City of Manila, emerged as Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the 31st Annual World Travel Awards (WTA).

Atty. Joan Padilla, Administrator of the Intramuros Administration, received the award together with Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao during the WTA Asia and Oceania Gala Ceremony 2024 held at the City of Dreams in Parañaque City on Tuesday, 3 September 2024.

This is the fourth time that Intramuros has bagged the said WTA award, following the same recognition it got in the years 2016, 2020, and 2022. It was also hailed as the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction in 2020.

Administrator Padilla said, “This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our Intramuros Administration workforce and collective efforts of our community, stakeholders, and visitors who all have contributed to the rich history and cultural significance of our Walled City.”

She added that the Intramuros Administration remains committed “to providing unforgettable experiences for visitors from around the globe and preserving Intramuros as a premier tourist destination for years to come.”

The Philippines also received seven other awards in this year’s WTA. The country was once again named as Asia’s Leading Dive Destination and Asia’s Leading Island Destination.

Boracay was recognized as Asia’s Leading Luxury Island Destination and Cebu as Asia’s Leading Wedding Destination.

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco was honored with the Transformational Leader Award in Tourism Governance, while the Philippines also won the Asia’s Leading Marketing Campaign award for the Love the Philippines campaign.