Bali named 'world's best destination' by travel reviewer website

The award handover was conducted on Thursday night by TripAdvisor Asia Pacific Head of Destination Marketing Sarah Mathews to Bali Deputy Governor Dewa Putu Sunarta, in Bali's lavish Seminyak Resort and Spa, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Bali is a tour destination that provides the best experiences for all kinds of visitors, including for those eager to see natural views, cultural attraction as well as for gastronomic enthusiasts. No wonder they always wanted to share what they had experienced in Bali to the world," said Mathews.

TripAdvisor's 2017 World's Best Destination Award for Bali was announced last month, resulting from its traveller choice programme conducted in a 12-month period.

The title makes Bali the first Asian destination to earn the title, surprisingly brushing aside London, Paris, Rome, New York, Barcelona and Phuket which were listed in TripAdvisor's top 10 destinations.

Besides Bali, TripAdvisor also put Lombok, a destination near Bali, as one of the best 10 Asian destinations this year.

TripAdvisor reviews three main categories of accommodation, tour attractions and restaurants.