State-run Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said Wednesday it plans to build more cruise terminals as the country aims to become the next Asian cruise tourism hub.
“We have started to build terminals dedicated only to cruise operations. We are making sure that the docks will be able to accommodate the huge cruise ships that we expect to arrive in the near future,” PPA general manager Jay Santiago said.
Santiago said the agency wanted to develop more cruise terminals in Coron, Siargao, Camiguin, Boracay and Puerto Galera.
Among the ports under PPA which cater to cruise vessels are the Ports of Currimao in Ilocos Norte, Salomague in Ilocos Sur, Manila, Bohol and El Nido, Palawan.
The World Cruise Awards earlier named the Philippines as Asia’s Best Cruise Destination for 2023 , topping other countries such as India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
“We are happy and proud that the Philippines finally got the Best Cruise Destination Award which shows recognition of the government’s steps led by the Department of Tourism with the help of various government agencies such as the PPA,” Santiago said.
“We believe that aside from picturesque tourist destinations, it is the rich culture, desirable local delicacies and the warmth of the Filipino people which entices foreign tourists to visit the Philippines,” he said.
PPA said that since the resumption of cruise tourism in the country in February 2023, it served 46,657 passengers from ships calling at its ports as of September 2023.
The DOT earlier said the Philippines is expected to have 128 cruise calls in 2023 across 33 destinations. The cruise ships are seen to bring in more than 101,000 passengers and some 50,000 crew members.
