With the pandemic still hanging like a permanent cloud over the world, it feels rather unproductive to talk about preferred travel destinations around the world. Even when said destinations have been competent in keeping their local infections manageable, many tourists might prefer to err on the side of caution. Nevertheless, another major travel magazine has come up with its updated list on the best island getaways for 2021, however useful that might be. And again, the Philippines lucked out in having one island on that ranking again. About the only downer is that its position has decreased from last year.

CNN Philippines has it that Palawan has again landed in the “Top 25 Islands in the World” list compiled annually by “Travel+Leisure” magazine. The updated edition of this travel recommendation came out earlier this month, and has Palawan at rank 19 with 88.63 points from voting done by travellers during a period from January to May earlier this 2021. While Filipinos, particularly Palawenos, can celebrate this achievement, it is sobered by the fact that 19th place is lower than what the island province got in the 2020 Top 25. It actually ranked Number 1 then.

Palawan has enjoyed being the best island destination in the world according to “Travel+Leisure” multiple times in the past decade: 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2020, when the pandemic was still in full swing. The 2021 top island this time around is Milos in Greece, part of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea. “Travel+Leisure” readers who voted in the poll earned Milos a 95.50 score. Palawan not being able to focus on its tourist destination areas on account of addressing the pandemic first may be understood as having led to its lower rank. It is still a great island getaway for the country all the same.

Months earlier another Philippine island paradise, the surfing haven of Siargao, had also made another Travelogue list, this time from TIME magazine, back in July.

Image courtesy of ABS-CBN News