Ōtakou/Otago has been dubbed one of the globe's "most welcoming" regions.
The southern region was listed on the travel website Booking.com's 2024 Traveller Review Awards, in which the UK's Perthshire region came out on top.
More than 300 million people reviewed locations and accommodation for the awards. The reviews are then combined with the share of Traveller Review Awards a particular place has, which gives a ranking.
Most welcoming regions in the world
- Perthshire, UK
- Penghu, Taiwan
- Boyacá, Colombia
- Trentino - Alto Adige, Italy
- Los Lagos, Chile
- Erongo, Namibia
- Otago, New Zealand
- Lapland, Finland
- Asturias, Spain
- Friesland, Netherlands.
Anthony Longman, head of destination at Tourism Central Otago, told Stuff he was over the moon.
"It reflects and recognises the way that our local accommodation operators extend manaakitanga to our visitors," he said.
In a separate list, the world's top 10 friendliest cities also got a mention. Brazil's Arraial d'Ajuda came out on top.
Most welcoming cities
- Arraial d'Ajuda, Brazil
- Ermoupoli, Greece
- Viana do Castelo, Portugal
- Daylesford, Australia
- Grindelwald, Switzerland
- Moab, US
- Uzès, France
- Mazatlán, Mexico
- Jaisalmer, India
- Fujikawaguchiko, Japan
Italy has the most Traveller Review Award recipients again for the seventh year in a row, followed by Spain, France, Germany and the UK.
This year is Booking.com's 12th Traveller Review Awards.
The platform lists accommodation, things to do, transport options, flights and features traveller reviews.
