Big shift in TripAdvisor destination favourites
Traditional city break destinations Paris, Barcelona and New York have all dropped down the rankings in the latest TripAdvisor Choice awards for Destinations.
Paris fell 6 places to number 7, Barcelona dropped 10 places to 15, and New York fell 10 places to 12.
Other favourites also dropped down the list significantly, with Sydney falling 12 positions to 22 and San Francisco falling 18 to 25.
Meanwhile Asian destinations have risen sharply in the rankings, with Beijing, Hanoi, and Shanghai all breaking into the top 10 for the first time.
But while there has been a marked shift in the results, London has maintained its position at number three for the second year running.
TripAdvisor spokesperson James Kay said: "It is interesting to see traditionally popular destinations Paris, New York and Barcelona drop down the rankings.
"This year’s results show that there are a number of destinations around the world that are starting to compete with the more traditional ones.
"However, London still continues to sustain its position in the top five and while there is no doubt the birth of the royal baby helped keep the eyes of the world on London in 2013, but the capital’s continued appeal among travellers around the world surpasses any one event."
London was pipped to top spot this year by Istanbul and Rome in first and second place respectively.
Istanbul climbed 11 places to take the number one spot.
In the UK awards, two seaside towns crept into the top 10 this year.
Torquay and Llandudno, in third and eighth place respectively, were the only towns in the list, as well as the only beach destinations in the top 10.
This year, Manchester, Glasgow and Blackpool, all winning destinations in 2013, are absent from the list and replaced instead by Edinburgh, York and Leeds, coming in second, sixth and ninth place respectively.
The 2014 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Destinations winners
World’s top 10
1. Istanbul
2. Rome
3. London
4. Beijing
5. Prague
6. Marrakech
7. Paris
8. Hanoi
9. Siem Reap
10. Shanghai
Europe’s top 10
1. Istanbul
2. Rome
3. London
4. Prague
5. Paris
6. Berlin
7. Florence
8. Barcelona
9. St Petersburg
10. Budapest
UK’s top 10
1. London
2. Edinburgh
3. Torquay
4. Liverpool
5. Belfast
6. York
7. Bristol
8. Llandudno
9. Leeds
10. Birmingham
Travellers’ Choice Destinations are based on the millions of reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travellers.
Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, attractions and restaurants in destinations worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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