KANGAROO ISLAND: AUSTRALIAS BEST ECO EXPERIENCE

16/06/2008

Travel agents from around the world agree: Kangaroo Island is Australia's best eco experience.

Australia's foremost inbound travel magazine, Travelling in Australia, will this month publish the results of its inaugural survey, voted on by international Aussie specialist travel agents, to find the nation's best experiences - and Kangaroo Island has come out on top.

Tourism Kangaroo Island Regional Marketing Manager, Tania O'Neil, says the results confirm Kangaroo Island's place as Australia's premier nature destination for international travellers.

"Travelling in Australia is a magazine read by 15,000 members of the travel trade around the world, as well as some of the top executives internationally and the CEOs of Australia's top 500 companies," Ms O'Neil says.

"This Travelling in Australia award for Kangaroo Island will help to further spread the word about our island as a must-see destination for anyone holidaying in Australia.

"Kangaroo Island's new world-class luxury wilderness retreat, Southern Ocean Lodge, is also acknowledged by these awards, winning the Best New Product Experience category.

"This is the latest in a string of recent wins for Kangaroo Island, following National Geographic Traveller Magazine voting it "Best Island in the Asia Pacific region", Corroborree 2007 delegates voting it "Best Australian Experience" and last year's win for Kangaroo Island as "Best Regional Food Destination" in the Vogue Traveller Magazine + Audi Produce Awards.

"Visitors are also flocking to Kangaroo Island, with a record number visiting in 2007 - up 12 per cent on 2006.

"With the opening of Southern Ocean Lodge garnering international media attention and the island's excellent track record on environmental issues, Kangaroo Island is perfectly placed to further increase the number of visitors to the island in 2008.

Ms O'Neil says visitors from around the world are becoming increasingly aware of their holiday's environmental impact, and Kangaroo Island is the perfect destination for a "green" vacation.

"Kangaroo Island is increasing its focus on eco-attractions and accommodation in recognition of these environmentally-aware travellers - as well as the future preservation of the island," Ms O'Neil says.

"During the past 10 years, Kangaroo Island has embraced the "leave only footprints" philosophy to ensure the experience visitors have today will be the same experience visitors will have in generations to come.

"It's all about recognising what makes KI special in the first place."

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