The world just can't get enough of Boracay.

Readers of travelandleisure.com have voted the Philippines' most popular tourist destination the "world's best island" this year.

According to the annual World’s Best Awards of Travel + Leisure’s online version, the bone-shaped isle with immaculate white sand beaches in Aklan province bested other famous islands such as Bali in Indonesia, Maui in Hawaii, and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Islands.

This may surprise some visitors who have noted algae bloom along the beach, a sign of pollution, and the large crowds that litter and make a mess of the interior of the island.

Boracay's lost natural innocence has been replaced by a cosmopolitan party vibe, a quality that draws tourists as much as the beach.

 

Boracay garnered a score of 93.10 to get top honors this year. Last year on the same list, Boracay ranked 4th, with a score of 89.83.


 

This is the 17th year of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards.

Each year, readers of Travel + Leisure are invited to answer a questionnaire, either online or in a Travel + Leisure magazine.

 

The criteria for World’s Best Island include natural attractions, activities and sights, restaurants and food, people and value.

Other categories include World’s Best City, Hotel, International Airline, Domestic Airline, Tour Operator, and Hotel Spa. In the last category, the Discovery Shores Hotel, also in Boracay, won the award for the Asia sub-category. — GCG/ELR/HS, GMA News