SINGAPORE, 27 March 2019: Two Asian destinations, Bali and Phuket, made it to TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Travellers’ Choice Destinations in the World list.
London topped the list followed by Paris and Rome in second and third place, but Bali in fifth place was the highest ranked Asian destination.
Phuket ranked sixth, the only other Asian destination in the top 10 global list.
Dubai ranked 10th the only destination in the Middle East to make it to the top list.
Bali was named the top destination in Asia for the second consecutive year, followed by Phuket. Two Indian destinations, Goa and Jaipur, also made it to the top 10 Asia list.
Siem Reap, home to the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia, was placed third and Hanoi the Vietnamese capital ranked fourth. Both popular destinations are in the Mekong Region. The so-called Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) covers Cambodia, China (Yunnan and Guang Xi provinces) Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
TripAdvisor’s rundown on this year’s winners globally and in Asia noted that Singapore travellers flock to both London and Bali. Travellers visiting destinations during off peak months can enjoy cheaper prices on airfares and accommodation. For example, travellers can save up to 40% on hotels in Bali when visiting in January compared to July.
Search interest among travellers from Singapore for lesser-known areas in Bali such Nusa Penida and Uluwatu between 2016 and 2018 surged by 398% and 106% respectively, while traditionally popular hotspots, such as Kuta and Seminyak, experienced a decline in search interest of 19% and 15% during the same period.
Top 10 Travellers’ Choice Destinations in the World:
1. London, United Kingdom
2. Paris, France
3. Rome, Italy
4. Crete, Greece
5. Bali, Indonesia
6. Phuket, Thailand
7. Barcelona, Spain
8. Istanbul, Turkey
9. Marrakech, Morocco
10. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Top 10 in Asia:
1. Bali, Indonesia
2. Phuket, Thailand
3. Siem Reap, Cambodia
4. Hanoi, Vietnam
5. Tokyo, Japan
6. Kathmandu, Nepal
7. Jaipur, India
8. Hong Kong S.A.R.
9. Seoul, South Korea
10. Goa, India
(Source: TripAdvisor)
