Great Barrier Islands reclaims world’s top 10 island listing and Sydney slips even further as World’s favourite city.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Islands have reclaimed their position in the top 10 of the World’s Best Islands category at number 10 in Travel + Leisure US’s 12th annual World’s Best Awards readers’ survey announced in New York today.

They had fallen out of the top 10 in 2006 but were number five among islands worldwide in the 2005 awards and this year, the Great Barrier Reef Islands were also voted the best island in the Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific region, with Queensland’s Fraser Island came in as the second best island regionally.

“Congratulations to The Great Barrier Reef Islands for making the top 10 World’s Best list this year and reclaiming the number one position regionally,” Anthony Dennis, editor Travel + Leisure Australia said. “These islands have bounced back significantly from the adverse effects of Cyclone Larry making this result particularly satisfying.”

Travel + Leisure’s US awards are a barometer of global travel trends, the World’s Best Awards based on responses from Travel + Leisure US’s readers reflecting their preferences, tastes and travel habits.  These readers of the world’s highest circulating travel publication are among the world’s most sophisticated travellers.

Travel + Leisure said, “These awards are the most respected, independent, definitive and influential in the international travel industry. Australia’s tourism and travel operators acknowledge these awards as reflective of the industry’s trends and tastes globally.”

“Tasmania, which last year ranked number one in the Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific Best Island region and number six in the World’s Best, is now number five in the regional category and has dropped out of the top 10 of the World’s Best list.”

“After dominating as the World’s Best City category by being named World’s Best City an extraordinary eight times in the survey’s twelve year history, Sydney has fallen from fourth position in 2006 to fifth position in the latest awards but has retained its number one position as Best City in the Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific region, with Melbourne was voted the second best city in the region.”

“Sydney’s slip in rankings comes at a time when NSW government and Tourism NSW have made a renewed commitment to bring Sydney’s international footprint back to life with a revitalized major events board, headed by John O’Neill who oversaw the successful World Cup in 2003.”

“Florence, Buenos Aires, Bangkok and Rome claim the top four positions in the World’s Best City category respectively proving travellers today favour cities rich in traditional and historic culture, with Florence maintaining the top position for the second year in a row.”

“Qantas also moved up one spot this year to its number seven ranking in the World’s Best International Airline category.”

“With the world moving toward a likeness of cultures and cities rich in traditional, historic culture, Sydney should be proud to make it into the top five beating the likes of New York and San Francisco, and retaining its number one status in the region.”

“No Australian hotels made the top 100 list of World’s Best Hotels, the poll suggests there might be challenges ahead for the Australian tourism industry to deliver internationally distinctive accommodation in the face of fierce competition from overseas markets.”

“Trends and insights from the latest World’s Best Awards are an accurate reflection of the current travel industry worldwide and the challenge for the local tourism bodies is to remain highly innovative, ever-improving and rich in culture and quality,” Dennis added.

In other Australasian results, New Zealand’s Huka Lodge is again named the best hotel in the Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific region with two Sydney hotels – the Observatory Hotel and the Four Seasons Hotel – and two French Polynesian hotels – the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa and Hotel Bora Bora – making up the top five hotels regionally, with Bora Bora also making an appearance as the region’s fourth best island.

Survey methodology and complete results are available on http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest and in Travel + Leisure US’s August 2007 issue.

Travel + Leisure Australia is one of six international Travel + Leisure editions, including the US parent title.

Report by The Mole