Bali is named world’s best tourist destination by TripAdvisor

1600px Girls in traditional Hindu dress in Bali Indonesia
While already hugely popular, tourism chiefs on Bali aim to attract up to 20 million visitors to the tiny island by 2019

Bali has been named the world’s best tourist destination by TripAdvisor — the first time the accolade has gone to an Asian destination.

The 2017 Trav­el­ers’ Choice awards top 10 were: Bali, In­done­sia; London, United King­dom; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; New York City, United States; Crete, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; Siem Reap, Cam­bo­dia; Prague, Czech Repub­lic; and Phuket, Thai­land.

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“It is really an honour for us to be chosen as the best in the world this year. I believe this award will strengthen our position as a tourism destination,” said I Gde Pi­tana, deputy minister for international tourism marketing at the Tourism Ministry.

He said the award would also boost efforts to attract 20 million foreign tourists to the tiny island by 2019. Besides Bali’s achievement, nearby Lom­bok was also recognised as one the top 10 destinations in Asia.

For the Philippines, El Nico, Palawan was named at number six in the ‘destinations on the rise’ category, and White Beach in Boracay was named the 24th best beach in the world.

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In February we also reported how the Philippines had dominated Conde Nast’s top 20 most beautiful beaches in the world, taking first place (Boracay), second (Palawan) and fifth (Cebu). (Read more here)

Last week, we also announced that Cebu Pacific was offering one-way flights from Sydney to Manila for only $110 in a bid “to give Bali a run for its money.” The offer ended on Sunday.” (Details here)

We have also reported on recent concerns that ongoing insurgency and concerns over extrajudicial killings are threatening to dent the burgeoning Philippine tourism industry. (See here and here)

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