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Java beats Bali, Lombok, as 'best island in the world'
Java has beat Bali and Lombok to come in first in its inaugural appearance in Travel+Leisure's World's Best Awards.
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Borobudur Temple as seen from Punthuk Setumbu in Magelang, Central Java (Marriott International/Kurniadi Widodo)
T
he island of Java has been recognized as the best island in the world in the annual World's Best Awards from American travel publication Travel+Leisure, a reader-based survey on their travel experiences around the globe.
The awards also includes top cities, cruise ships, spas and airlines.
Topping the list of 15 best islands with a score of 95.28, Java reportedly never made it on the list before.
"Celebrated for its ancient culture, breathtaking vistas, and UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Borobudur Temple Compounds [sic], the island also offers the opportunity to indulge in modernity (five-star hotels abound). Waterfalls, volcanoes, protected parks, and white-sand beaches also allow visitors to get away from the thrum," the publication described the island.
Following Java were the two other famed Indonesian islands, Bali and Lombok, as the second (94.06) and third (93.88) best islands, respectively.
Five Indonesian hotels featured on the awards' list of Top 100 Hotels in the World. Of the five, three properties were included in the top 10: Four Seasons Resort Sayan Bali (ranked first), The Mulia Bali (sixth) and Nihi Sumba (ninth).
Read also: Five colorful villages in Java
As reported by kompas.com, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya welcomed the recognition in a statement on Wednesday, saying it could boost the country's confidence in hosting the upcoming Asian Games and the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group (IMF-WB Annual Meetings).
"The awards have tremendous value. It proves that Indonesia has a [broad] tourism potential, as previously such awards were dominated by Bali and Lombok," Arief added.
President Joko Widodo shared his joy on social media regarding the accolades.
"Java Island, the location of four UNESCO world heritage sites, has been chosen as The Best Island in The World 2018, the best island in the world, by travel site Travel and Leisure. As Asian Games 2018 and IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings 2018 are upon us in Indonesia, this news is a pleasing one," he tweeted on Thursday. (kes)
Pulau Jawa, lokasi empat situs warisan dunia UNESCO, dipilih sebagai The Best Island in The World 2018, pulau terbaik di dunia, oleh situs perjalanan Travel and Leisure.
Menjelang Asian Games 2018 dan IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings 2018 di Indonesia, kabar ini menggembirakan. pic.twitter.com/eBBwq7wLgY
— Joko Widodo (@jokowi) July 12, 2018
