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London is world's top place to visit
Bo Wilson, Evening Standard12.12.07
London has been voted the greatest holiday destination in the world, beating competition from cities such as New York and Sydney and idyllic beachside retreats including Barbados and the Maldives.
A combination of new venues, including Wembley Stadium, and blockbuster exhibitions, such as the Terracotta Army, helped the capital to triumph at the World Travel Awards last night. The awards are based on the votes of more than 160,000 agents.
The win follows an exceptional year for London. An estimated million people watched the Tour de France Grand Depart in July and once shabby attractions such as the Royal Festival Hall have been refurbished.
The Millennium Dome has been transformed into the O2 arena, with major concerts by Prince, Barbra Streisand and Led Zeppelin. Visitors can enjoy two blockbuster exhibitions. The British Museum has the Ter racotta Army wh i le Tutankhamun And The Golden Age Of The Pharaohs at the O2 is a big draw.
Other popular events include the opening of London Zoo's Gorilla Kingdom and the India Now! season.
The World Travel Awards are considered to be the most comprehensive and prestigious in the industry, recognising excellence in travel and tourism.
Last year, London welcomed a record 15.6 million overseas tourists, up more than 12 per cent on 2005. The number of British visitors staying overnight in the capital rose by 2.6 per cent to almost 11 million. Tourist spending equals about £15billion a year.
Tourism organisation Visit London accepted the award at the ceremony in the West Indies by video link. Chief executive James Bidwell said: "This award bolsters London's position as the number one city destination in the world and tops an incredible year for the capital. Last year was a record year for overseas visitors to London and our market share of international visitor numbers also increased.
"From building new, world-class venues to attracting international sporting events, our intention is to continue this momentum in the lead-up to and beyond the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"We will not rest on our laurels but continue to innovate."
TOP RESORTS WE BEAT
Abu Dhabi
Barbados
Dubai
India
Jamaica
Maldives
New York
Orlando
Rio de Janeiro
Sharm el Sheikh
Sydney
Reader views (18)
London is number 1, 2 and 3. Nowhere else comes close!
Best of London? The people. We've never had a bad experience and we try to come every other year.
This year we will be there on December 31.
- Robert, Chicago, U.S.A.
Well done London, well done Ken. London's transformation into the World's capital is astonishing- and the Olympics are still to come! Forget all the moaning right-wing going-nowhere types, this is a thriving city with big ambitions and we should be proud of it. Please, please don't shackle London's fortunes to a blustering buffoon from the 'Shires. Keep it going Ken, you've got flaws but so has this city, you've got dreams, and so has this city, and you're ambitious, brash and pioneering, as this city should always be.
- Luis, London
London is a great city, but going through Heathrow and Gatwick airports are a living hell....By the way, where is Paris on the list? Something is amiss.
- Will, Bangalore, India
Replace Red Ken with Boris and the sky's the limit.
- Richard, London, England
London's got life and soul. You can't really say that for places like Dubai et al (the wannabe Las Vegas')
- Hassan, Doha, Qatar
London is a very nice place to visit. I'm surprised that it beat Disneyworld though. Disney has a great transportation system, safe drinking water, and a very low murder rate.
- Rich Malone, Chicago, IL USA
I agree with Peter. The sooner we get rid of Red Ken and his red tape and the olympics away we can have a great town again. In the meantime we still suffer from crime, bad transport, pollution, too high council taxes and dirt everywhere.
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
London's like the Bronx... but more expensive...
- Pan Czlonek, New York, New York
Londoners, especially, make London my favourite place to visit, also.
- Sara, San Diego, CA
Great place to visit, but awful place to live unless very, very rich.
- Baz, London, UK
Nice place to visit but not live.
- Kim, London
London is dreary, expensive and the food [Gordon Ramsay notwithstanding] is egregious.
- Jt Guy, Columbus, USA
London is a fun place to visit, nice people.. but the number one holiday destination? I just don't see that but to each his own I guess.
- Mike Mazzla, Long Island NY
London is only one of the many great places to visit in the South of England.
- Valerie Wilde, Sussex
I visited London last summer and had a great time. The people were nice, the sites and attractions were sublime, it was easy to get around via the Underground, and the City itself had a nice friendly feel. I purposely left some things needing to be done so I know I'll have to return.
Only one problem. Soo expensive. But then again, I was using U.S. dollars.
- Hober Mallow, Seattle, USA
London is a wonderful place to visit. A bit on the expensive side, but a great deal of fun!
- Mike Osterman, Kent, Washington, USA
London is great, but I'd rather visit a nice tropical island any day.
- Dimitri, Moscow
For a city with a rickety problem-ridden transport system, dirty streets, crampled and crowded airport and very expensive attractions this is a phenomenal result. Imagine what could be achieved if we sorted out the above?
- Peter, Collier's Wood, London
