Cape Breton Named One of the Best Islands in the World to Visit

A signature Nova Scotia visitor experience has been recognized as a top destination internationally.

Readers of Travel + Leisure, a major travel publication, have voted Cape Breton Island as the third best island in the world.

"Cape Breton is one of our greatest cultural and tourism icons," said Premier Darrell Dexter. "Every Cape Bretoner and Nova Scotian from far and wide should take great pride in this achievement as it proves what we all believe -- Cape Breton is a Nova Scotia masterpiece."

Cape Breton jumped seven spots from last year's ranking, finishing just behind Bali and the Galapagos Islands. For the second straight year, readers also chose Cape Breton as the best island in the continental United States and Canada.

"This great honour comes as no surprise to anyone that has ever visited Cape Breton. Its beautiful landscapes, cultural experiences and the warmth of its people make Cape Breton one of the greatest vacation destinations in the world," said Percy Paris, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage.

The magazine invited subscribers to help rank islands, cities, hotels, car-rental agencies, airlines, tour companies and cruise lines. Readers rate islands based on natural attractions, activities/sights, restaurants/food, people, and value.

"This is an especially great honour for us because it is voted on by our visitors," said Ray Kavanaugh, president of Destination Cape Breton Association. "The tourism industry in Cape Breton works very hard to provide the best possible experiences for their guests and this ranking is the best possible reward for that work."

The complete 2009 results, including the Top 100 Hotels Worldwide, Top 10 Cities in the World, and Top 10 Islands in the World are featured at www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest and in Travel + Leisure's August issue, on newsstands soon.