Cape Town - South Africa has been named among the top three best countries and Cape Town scooped the best city in the world award for the fourth consecutive year, followed by Vancouver and Venice, in the UK Telegraph Travel Awards.
The 2015-16 Telegraph Travel Awards winners were announced this week after more than 75 000 readers voted.
Cape Town was also named number one food city in the world in Condé Nast’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
New Zealand was voted best country for the fourth time, followed by the Maldives and South Africa.
Telegraph Travel said: “It may require a long journey – it sits a precise 6 000 miles from London Heathrow, but it is not hard to understand why you (readers) have picked Cape Town as your favourite city for the second successive Telegraph Travel Awards.
“South Africa’s most fabled place could never be described as a question mark – the brooding Table Mountain is too recognisable; the beach resorts of Camps Bay too enticing; the history which swirls around the metropolis, reaching its dark zenith on Robben Island, too absorbing.”
Mayco member for tourism, events and economic development Garreth Bloor said Cape Town was becoming increasingly popular as a destination for a number of reasons.
“It is heartening to see Cape Town scoop the best city award for the fourth consecutive year.
“What makes this even more credible is that this survey is done independently and is based on the readers’ choice.
“Add to this another recent accolade, which was being voted the best food city, I would say Cape Town is most definitely a place to live, to work, to play and to eat,” he said.
Cape Town Tourism executive officer Enver Duminy said: “These accolades reinforce our global brand as one of the best places to explore and, what makes it most exciting, they reflect the variety of experiences Cape Town has to offer, from unparalleled natural beauty to delicious, intimate culinary adventures in our many restaurants.”
Cape Times