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Without a doubt, 2017 has been nothing short of a vibrant and eventful year for all of us here at Travel Wire Asia.
And as we usher in the new year, we can look back at 2017 and say it has indeed been an adventure, and we’d like to thank you, our audience, for supporting us.
With that in mind, here is a recap of the most read stories of the year.
5. Affluent Malaysian suburb hailed among world’s ‘coolest neighbourhoods’
The popular Ben’s Independent Grocer in Plaza Batai. Source: BIG
In Lonely Planet’s recent rankings curated by local experts around the world, the Kuala Lumpur’s wealthy suburb Damansara Heights made a wildcard entry alongside the likes of Tooting in London, Sunset Park in New York City, and Seongsu-dong in Seoul.
In the list, Damansara Heights was described as “one of the richest addresses in Kuala Lumpur”, and a neighborhood that managed the tricky task of having “retained its personality despite its recent revitalization”.
4. All 10 of the world’s fastest-growing tourist cities are in Asia
Great Hall of the People in Chongqing, China.
A report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) which covered 65 cities – 21 in the Asia Pacific – found that all those seeing huge growth in tourism numbers, job creation and contribution to city economies were in the region.
3. You can soon take a train from London to Tokyo
A passenger train moves along Baikal Lake in Russia. Source: Shutterstock
Departing from London, the route would take travelers through the heart of Russia before concluding in Wakkanai, Japan. The route would also cover Germany, Poland, Eastern Europe, and the Siberian Mountains.
The project was proposed in hopes to boost investment in the eastern parts of Russia, and Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to be in “serious talks” with Japan to kickstart plans.
2. Is the Rohingya crisis affecting tourism in Myanmar?
Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda. Source: AP
The United Nations labelled the situation of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing”. While the violence is centered in the townships of Maungdaw, Buthidaung, and Rathedaung away from the tourist-heavy areas of Yangon, Mandalay, and Bagan, the general sentiment around the embattled nation could affect inbound numbers.
1. The top three best islands in the world are in the Philippines
A scenic spot at Boracay Island in the Philippines. Source: Shutterstock
Boracay, Cebu, and Palawan were listed as the top three best islands in the world.
Condè Nast Traveler put Boracay first on the list due to its “gentle coastlines and transportation sunsets” as well as its “thriving” nightlife.
The list highlighted by the Philippine Inquirer said Cebu and the Visayan islands came second owing to its more “personal” atmosphere with many up-and-coming restaurants.
The list came as part of a lifestyle magazine’s Readers Choice Awards which saw some 300,000 participants take part in a survey.
The post Here are your favorite Travel Wire Asia stories of 2017 appeared first on Travel Wire Asia.
Source: travelwireasia.com