By Ivy Marie Mangadlao
Correspondent
BUTUAN City ― Another international recognition has been given to the country’s surfing capital after Time Magazine has included Siargao in their list of “The World’s 100 Greatest Places of 2021” released on July 20 evening.
Time’s writer, Duncan Forgan especially mentioned one of the island’s beachfront which is Inara Siargao Resort.
“While destinations such as Boracay, Cebu, and Palawan nailed the mass market, the teardrop-shaped island off the coast of Mindanao until recently had been best known to a dedicated band of surfers lured by consistent waves. But the secret is out, and new spots are popping up on the island, including the beachfront Inara Siargao Resort, an intimate five-suite property that can be booked on Instagram,” Forgan said.
“Just before Covid-19 shutdowns, Siargao got additional cell towers to improve data connectivity, which will be a boon to tourism when it reopens to vaccinated international travelers,” he added.
The international magazine said that in compiling the list this year, it solicited nominations of places such as countries, regions, cities, and towns from its global network of correspondents and contributors with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences.
“The result is a list of 100 unique destinations, from the idyllic Portuguese town of Arouca, now home to the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge, to the continent of Antarctica, which this December will experience a rare total solar eclipse. And while it may not be possible to safely visit each place just yet, they’re all well worth reading (and dreaming) about until it’s time, once again, to explore,” it said.
Time emphasized that the annual list is a tribute to the people and businesses at the forefront of those industries who, amid extraordinary circumstances, found ways to adapt, build, and innovate.
“It shines a light on ingenuity, creativity, revitalization, and reopening in destinations across the world,” it added.
Siargao island is the only place across the country that has been included in the magazine’s list.
Regional Director of the Department of Tourism- Caraga Nelia Arina said it was an honor to be recognized as the top destination in the Philippines.
“Since it’s already published as a top destination, we are expecting that the tourism economy of the region will likely to recover as people who clamor to travel would always want to go to Siargao,” said Arina.
The tear-drop-shaped island, located in the province Surigao del Norte, is currently accepting tourists coming from General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and Modified GCQ areas with health and safety protocols.
