IT’S clear that when it comes to travelling, people have a taste for the exotic — as popular travel site, TripAdvisor, announced Marrakech, Morocco, as the world’s best destination for the year, topping the list of its 2015 Travellers’ Choice Awards.  Based on the millions of reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community, the historic North African kingdom ranked first place, followed closely by Siem Reap, Cambodia.

A resort town — which also topped the Top 10 Travellers’ Choice Destinations in Asia — the latter is no doubt popular for its proximity to Unesco World Heritage Site Angkor Wat. Another Southeast Asian city that made the world’s list is Hanoi, Vietnam, ranking fourth best in the world. In fact, Southeast Asian cities take the top four spots for most popular destinations in Asia, making up 13 of the 25 winning destinations.  

Tabulated using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions in destinations worldwide over a 12-month period, honours were given to 469 top travel destinations worldwide.

Last year’s top ranked destination, Istanbul, Turkey, remained as third most popular travel hotspot for its rich cultural and historical heritage. Meanwhile, big cities such as London, Rome and Paris also managed to stay in the global top 10 list, albeit lower in rankings.  

“These world-class destinations chosen by our community are rich in history, culture and beauty and offer endless sights to explore,” said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. “To help travellers discover these cities, TripAdvisor has surfaced value hotel options that are bookable on the site, along with fantastic places to eat and play.”

As an additional resource, TripAdvisor has curated Travel Guides for the top 25 award-winning destinations in the world, along with hotel recommendations, tips on what to see in each destination and a complete list of winners. Visit www.tripadvisor.com.sg/TravellersChoice-Destinations to find out more.

Top 10 Travellers’ Choice
Destinations in the World
(with average nightly hotel rate in US$):
1.  Marrakech, Morocco — US$88.56
2.  Siem Reap, Cambodia — US$55.42
3.  Istanbul, Turkey — US$105.31
4.  Hanoi, Vietnam — US$39.77
5.  Prague, Czech Republic — US$84.98
6.  London, England — US$238.43
7.  Rome, Italy — US$127.44
8.  Buenos Aires, Argentina — US$92.89
9.  Paris, France — US$168.02
10. Cape Town, South Africa — US$113.46

Top 10 Travellers’ Choice
Destinations in Asia
(with average nightly hotel rate in US$):
1.  Siem Reap, Cambodia — US$55.42
2.  Hanoi, Vietnam — US$39.77
3.  Ubud, Bali, Indonesia — US$156.29
4.  Bangkok, Thailand — US$55.22
5.  Kathmandu, Nepal — US$49.68
6.  Hong Kong, China — US$150.44
7.  Hoi An, Vietnam — US$51.21
8.  Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia — US$116.90
9.  Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia — US$202.84
10. Beijing, China — US$76.22

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on April 3, 2015.