Otago named one of the ‘most welcoming’ regions in the world
Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Otago has been named one of the “most welcoming” places in the world in Booking.com’s Traveller Review Awards.
The South Island region was named in the top 10 in a list topped by Scotland’s Perthshire, followed by Penghu in Taiwan and Colombia’s Boyacá.
The rankings are based on more than 300 million verified reviews on the accommodation and holiday platform and the number of Traveller Review Awards each location has.
Anthony Longman, the head of destination at Tourism Central Otago, told Stuff Travel he was delighted the region had been chosen.
“It reflects and recognises the way that our local accommodation operators extend manaakitanga to our visitors,” said Longman.
“This welcome is a focus of the Southern Way which is about how travelling slowly through the communities of the lower south, and engaging with our people and businesses, visitors have a more rewarding experience.”
A second list highlighting the friendliest cities was topped by Brazil’s Arraial d'Ajuda, followed by Ermoupoli in Greece and Portugal’s Viana do Castelo.
Most welcoming regions
Perthshire, United Kingdom
Penghu, Taiwan
Boyacá, Colombia
Trentino - Alto Adige, Italy
Los Lagos, Chile
Erongo, Namibia
Otago, New Zealand
Lapland, Finland
Asturias, Spain
Friesland, Netherlands
Most welcoming cities
Arraial d'Ajuda, Brazil
Ermoupoli, Greece
Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Daylesford, Australia
Grindelwald, Switzerland
Moab, United States
Uzès, France
Mazatlán, Mexico
Jaisalmer, India
Fujikawaguchiko, Japan