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Japan’s Charm Earns Global Recognition

In an exciting development, Japan has been declared the number one destination in Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious “Best Countries in the World” ranking. This announcement came on October 3rd, 2023, as part of the “Readers’ Choice Awards,” a reader-driven poll that identifies the world’s most captivating countries. Japan secured the top spot, moving up from its previous position at number two.

Notably, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has also officially announced this prestigious award.

Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 Top 10 in “The Best Countries in the World”:

  1. Japan
  2. Italy
  3. Greece
  4. Ireland
  5. New Zealand
  6. Spain
  7. Portugal
  8. Israel
  9. Norway
  10. Switzerland

The Significance of the Readers’ Choice Awards

The “Readers’ Choice Awards” have a rich history and are considered highly authoritative in the world of travel. For this edition, over 520,000 readers of Condé Nast Traveler cast their votes in various categories, including countries, cities, islands, and resorts, to express their preferences for places they would like to revisit.

Positive Trends in Japanese Tourism

Gamou Atsumi, Chairman of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), shared his thoughts on the achievement. He stated that the number of American tourists visiting Japan in 2023 has reached a record high of 1,309,000 travelers from January to August. This resurgence in international travel demand is approaching pre-COVID-19 levels, signaling high expectations for tourism in Japan.

He also mentioned that 2024 has been designated as the Japan-U.S. Tourism Exchange Year, and the JNTO is committed to actively promoting Japan’s tourism charm during this valuable period.

Tokyo Shines in the “City” Category

Japan’s capital city, Tokyo, also garnered recognition in the “Readers’ Choice Awards.” In the category of cities, Tokyo secured the second position after Singapore. This acknowledgment underscores Tokyo’s appeal as a global metropolis with a unique blend of tradition and modernity.

Top 10 in “The Best Cities in the World” (Cities with Populations Over 500,000):

    1. Singapore
    2. Tokyo
    3. Seoul
    4. Cape Town
    5. Sydney
    6. Copenhagen
    7. Oslo
    8. Vancouver
    9. Melbourne
    10. Edinburgh

What is Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards?

Condé Nast Traveler is a renowned travel magazine with a long history and a strong global presence. It caters to readers, primarily from the affluent demographic, providing them with the latest information on high-quality travel, hotels, restaurants, and shopping. The magazine has approximately 3,200,000 readers and is positioned as one of the most popular travel magazines alongside “Travel + Leisure” and “National Geographic.”

Condé Nast Traveler has been conducting the “Readers’ Choice Awards” since 1988, evaluating travel destinations worldwide comprehensively. These awards rate destinations that are highly popular among readers as top choices for their next journeys.

Apart from the “The Best Countries in the World” category highlighted here, the awards cover various other rankings, including hotels and cruises. The complete list of award-winning destinations is available on Condé Nast Traveler‘s official website.

Japan’s achievement as the top-ranked country globally highlights its growing global appeal. Alongside this recognition, Japan is also actively working to enhance its Muslim-friendliness, making it an even more welcoming destination for travelers from diverse backgrounds. As Japan continues to captivate the world, its tourism prospects remain brighter than ever.

See Also

Japan: The Most Missed Country for Travel and Here’s Why