Manila is 5th top destination for Aussies
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 06/19/2009 11:44 PM
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MANILA - For Australian tourists, Manila ranks 5th on the list for top world tourist destinations, according to an informal poll conducted by a leading travel and lifestyle website in April and May this year.
Lastminute.com.au, which offers a range of travel products, reported that Manila ranked higher on the "top destinations list" than Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manchester, Paris, Amsterdam, Phuket, Dublin, Hong Kong, and Birmingham.
"Short-haul destinations like Bali, Bangkok, and Manila retained their popularity over the past year due to being close and relatively cheap to get to from Australia - allowing Aussies to have luxury holidays on a recession-friendly budget," said Mia Carter, website spokesperson, in a statement.
London in England was the top favorite for Australians, reportedly due to bargain airfares and a favorable exchange rate in the United Kingdom, among other reasons. London was consistently a top hotspot for Aussies until 2008, when it fell to 2nd.
"Aussies have always loved London, but late last year, the tough economic climate caused many travelers to choose cheaper short-haul destinations and put their UK travel plans on hold," Carter said.
Meanwhile, other top destinations include Auckland, which ranked 4th; Bangkok which ranked 3rd and Bali, which ranked 2nd on the list. The website, however, did not provide additional details about their online survey.
Launched in 2000, Lastminute.com.au offers hotel, flight, and travel booking services, as well as travel insurance and gifts. It reportedly has 300,000 subscribers.
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