Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Cebu as the fourth best, among Asian island destinations in World?s Best Awards 2009, a listing of the best hotels, airlines, cruises in islands and cities all over the world.
No other Philippine city, island, resort, hotel, or airline made it to the listing in other categories.
The awards are based on the American magazine?s 14th Readers? Poll survey conducted from mid-January to the end of March this year.
?An unprecedented number of new names and places made their debuts on this year?s list, sometimes unseating longtime favorites,? says Travel + Leisure editor in chief Nancy Novogrod.
Cebu got a rating of 79.68 points, ranked behind Bali (87.41), Maldives (84.43), and Phuket (80.93).
Respondents were asked to rate the islands based on natural attractions, activities and sights, restaurant and food, people and value.
They had to rate a candidate on a scale of 1 to 5 where ?1? means poor and ?5? means excellent.
In the Cond Nast Traveler annual Readers? Choice Survey, Cebu occupied the seventh spot in the best island destination in Asia/Indian Ocean three times: in 2008 at 70.9, which is two points short of 2007?s 72.3 points and 2004?s 72.8 points.
Twice, it has been ranked 8th best island destination: in 2006 with 71.0 points and in 2005 with 69.5 in the same magazine survey.
Both Travel + Leisure Magazine and Cond Nast Traveler are American publications based in New York.
