EMBARGOED UNTIL 11.30 AM THURSDAY 31 JANUARY 2008
EDINBURGH MAKES TOP TEN CITIES IN THE WORLD
- Results of Wanderlust magazine travel awards -
Edinburgh has reason to celebrate today, having been ranked among the top 10 cities in the world (with a satisfaction rating of 90.18%), in the annual Wanderlust Travel Awards. The Scottish capital came in at number 10 – the first time any UK city has featured in the seven year history of the awards.
The city is among good company, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Venice, San Francisco, Sydney and Hong Kong. It also saw off stiff competition from Tokyo and Boston who narrowly missed making it into the Top 10. Luang Prabang in Laos took the number one spot (with a satisfaction rating of 97.30%) and a total of 613 cities were nominated throughout the world.
Edinburgh was also recognized in the Best Festivals category, with the Edinburgh Festival coming third and the Edinburgh Fringe coming sixth. The Festival was just pipped to the post for first place by the Rio Carnival and Womad music festival, but ranked higher than a number of world renowned events, including Glastonbury, the Venice Carnival and the Pushkar Camel Festival in Rajasthan.
Commenting on the awards, Wanderlust editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes says: “I am thrilled that Edinburgh has made the Top 10. It proves that we Brits don’t have to travel far to experience an exciting, world class city that’s rich in history and offers the very best in culture, food, architecture and entertainment.”
The annual Wanderlust Awards are based on the results of an independent poll amongst its readers - nearly 3000 consumers voted this year. Other results included New Zealand clinching Top Country for the second year running and Bradt Guides knocking Lonely Planet off the Best Guidebook top spot for the first time in 5 years. A special award went to Jonathan Scott of ‘Big Cat Diary’ fame.
The awards also recognized the top tour operators, writers, airlines, airports, festivals, travel equipment providers and websites. Full results of the Travel Awards will appear in the March edition of Wanderlust, on sale 14 February, priced £3.80. They will also be available online at www.wanderlust.co.uk
· About Wanderlust magazine
Wanderlust was launched by Paul Morrison and Lyn Hughes in 1993. The couple were bored on a long flight from South America and decided to sketch out their dream travel magazine on the back of a sick bag. They soon decided that they could it do themselves and there was no other name for it than Wanderlust. Over the last fifteen years the magazine has established itself as the bible for independent-minded travellers. Go to www.wanderlust.co.uk to find out more about the magazine and how you can vote for your favourites in travel for 2009.
Results summary
2008 2007
Top Countries:2008 Top Countries 2007
1. New Zealand New Zealand
2. Madagascar Namibia
3. Namibia Ecuador
4. Nepal Laos
5. Laos Myanmar
6. Bhutan Cook Islands
7. Ukraine Guatemala
8. Tibet Bolivia
9. Peru Nepal
10. Ecuador Uganda
Top Cities: 2008 Top Cities:2007
1. Luang Prabang Luang Prabang
2. Santiago de Compostela Varanasi
3. Venice Cordoba
4. San Francisco Siena
5. Sydney San Francisco
6. Hong Kong Lucca
7. Lhasa Sydney
8. Dubrovnik Seville
9. Cusco Siem Reap
10. Edinburgh New York
Special Award Special Award: New category for 2008
Festival Festival: New category for 2008
1. Rio Carnival
2. Womad
3. Edinburgh Festival
4. Glastonbury
5. Diwali
6. Edinburgh Fringe
7. Venice Carnival
8. Pushkar Camel Fair, Rajasthan
9. Festival of the Desert, Mali
10. Notting Hill Carnival
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