‘Gorgeous haven’: CNN names Palawan one of the world’s most beautiful islands

MANILA - Palawan, with its numerous white-sand beaches and cruise-worthy caves, was included in CNN Travel's "10 of the world's most beautiful islands", a report released on Wednesday.

CNN travel enthusiast Jen Rose Smith calls Palawan "a gorgeous haven of pale sand and clear water."

The Department of Tourism acknowledged the recognition.

“Our rehabilitation efforts to preserve the beauty of Palawan did not go unnoticed. We are thankful for this CNN citation of our tourist destinations,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a statement Thursday.

Joining Palawan in CNN Travel's list are Milos, Greece; Bartolomé, Ecuador; Fregate, Seychelles; St. Lucia, Lesser Antilles; Jura, Scotland; Komodo Island, Indonesia; and Kaua’i, United States.

The hot tourist destination is no stranger to foreign recognition, which includes consideration as the second best island in the world by famed Travel+Leisure magazine.

Palawan is protected within the UNESCO-listed Palawan Biosphere Reserve. Its Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.