In one of the biggest acknowledgements of the State’s increasing status as a sought-after international tourist destination, Tasmania has been named the number one island in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific by leading North American magazine Travel + Leisure.<\/p>\n
The Minister for Economic Development and Tourism, Paula Wriedt, said the World’s Best Awards put Tasmania ahead of Bora Bora, the Great Barrier Reef, Tahiti’s Moorea, and the Fiji Islands.<\/p>\n
“The State also featured in the list of World’s Best Islands, impressively entering the top10 list this year at number five,” Ms Wriedt said.<\/p>\n
“This is an incredibly prestigious accolade, with Tasmania beaten on the world stage only by well-established destinations such as the Galapagos Islands, Bali, and the Hawaiian destinations Maui and Kauai.<\/p>\n
“Hobart also polled in number five position this year appearing on the list of top cities in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.<\/p>\n
“The Travel + Leisure award highlights just how well Tasmania has been positioned in the international marketplace, but particularly in North America.<\/p>\n
“In the year to March 2008, nearly 30,000 North Americans visited Tasmania, up three per cent on the previous year.<\/p>\n
“Accolades like this provide enormous impetus for American travellers to reconsider Tasmania as an island destination of prestige.<\/p>\n
Ms Wriedt said the World’s Best Awards results further supported the State Government’s commitment to strengthening Tasmania’s brand.<\/p>\n
The Travel + Leisure magazine is the world’s highest circulating travel title, and the awards are based on responses from readers.<\/p>\n
“They reflect the preferences, tastes and travel habits of some of the world’s most sophisticated travellers,” she said.<\/p>\n
Tasmania recently achieved another Travel and Leisure accolade, with Tasmanian tourism operator, Bruny Island Charters, being featured in the magazine’s annual glossy coffee-table book titled 100 Greatest Trips.<\/p>\n