Boracay named favorite beach destination at Malaysia tourism fair

In yet another commendation, Boracay has been declared the Favorite Beach Destination of 2015 by the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA) the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said in a statement Tuesday.

MATTA announced the choice at a press conference on March 9. The fair will be held from March 13 to 15 at the Putra World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur.

According to the Philippine Embassy, MATTA organizing committee chairman S. Jayakumar praised Boracay’s white sand beaches and said that the Philippines is rich in natural resources and biodiversity.

Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya thanked Malaysians for the recognition, noting that Malaysia was the Philippines’ ninth largest tourist market in 2014, posting a 27.24-percent increase in tourist arrivals—the year’s highest growth—to 139,245.

“It is our pleasure for Malaysians to discover the island, with its pristine white sands and breathtaking beaches, which captivated many visitors [as a destination] for nature-tripping, watersports and beach-hopping,” the statement quoted Malaya as saying.