Arabian Travel Market has named the Philippines as the recipient of the New Frontiers Award 2013.
The award was made in recognition of the Philippines’ ongoing efforts to rebuild physical infrastructure and its tourism economy in the wake of the December 2012 typhoon, which affected 6.2 million people in the south of the country leaving close to one million displaced persons.
Typhoon Bopha was the deadliest in the world in 2012, damaging more than 216,000 houses and leveling large tracts of land, including key public infrastructure and agricultural communities.
The New Frontiers Award recognises destinations that have overcome great adversity to bring much needed tourism back to their shores.
The award also honours the strength and determination of the local people who work tirelessly to rebuild lives and communities following disaster as well as highlighting the crisis management capabilities of local tourism authorities.
An original selection of 10 countries for the New Frontiers Award 2013 was refined to a shortlist also comprising New York state (Hurricane Sandy) and Pakistan (2012 floods).
