New York times puts Perth on 52 places to go in 2019 list

The West Australian – Ronan O’Shea and Natalie Richards

The US newspaper lists Perth 43rd on the list and says a decade-long development boom has reinvigorated the city. It cites Yagan Square, Optus Stadium and the Raine Square redevelopment as attractions to lure visitors.

“A decade-long development boom has supercharged Perth, a city previously best known for its isolation on Australia’s western coast,” reporter Kelly Dinardo wrote.

“To accommodate the expected growth in tourism, 31 new or redeveloped hotels have opened in the last five years, including the luxury COMO, the hip QT and a Westin.”

The article also spruiks the Qantas non-stop flight from London and points out how liquor law reforms have created a small bar boom in the CBD.

The list was topped by Puerto Rico, which despite the devastating hurricane Maria which hit the Caribbean island a year and a half ago, is regarded as the must-go destination.

The second spot goes to Hampi in southern India and No.3 on the list is Santa Barbara in California.

New South Wales’ Northern Rivers was the only other Australian destination to appear on the list, ranking at number 29.

The NY Times ranks its home city in number 31

Perth has been making waves in the international travel scene in recent years.

In 2017, Perth eateries Nobu and Friends Restaurant were mentioned in travel website TripAdvisor’s awards for best fine dining venues.

While also mentioned in the New York Times’ travel spiel, COMO The Treasury was also the only Australian hotel to make the top 50 in the 2017 Conde Nast Traveller readers’ choice awards.

Wednesday, 9 January 2019