Vancouver Island has been named one of the top regions in the world by Lonely Planet.
Each year, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel lists start with nominations from the travel company's staff, writers, bloggers, publishing partners and more. The nominations are then narrowed down to 10 countries, 10 regions and 10 cities. "Each is chosen for its topicality, unique experiences, ‘wow’ factor and it’s ongoing commitment to sustainable tourism practices," explains a news release.
Lonely Planet’s top selection for 2022 is the Westfjords, Iceland, a region of the island nation "untouched by mass tourism where communities are working together to protect and promote their spectacular landscapes." West Virginia, USA comes in second, followed by Xingshuabanna, China.
This year, B.C.'s largest island was named as a top region by the travel company. It was also the lone Canadian destination to make the annual list of top 10 countries, cities and regions to visit in the year ahead.
“We are honoured to receive such positive recognition for Vancouver Island at a time when our tourism industry is embarking on a road to recovery,” says Anthony Everett, president and CEO of Tourism Vancouver Island.
“As international visitors begin to travel again, they will look to trusted travel authorities such as Lonely Planet for direction on which destinations to choose first."
The Cook Islands — one of the world’s smallest countries — claims the coveted spot as the number-one country to seek out in 2022, while Norway places second and Mauritius third.
Top 10 Regions
- Westfjords, Iceland
- West Virginia, U.S.A.
- Xishuangbanna, China
- Kent’s Heritage Coast, U.K.
- Puerto Rico
- Shikoku, Japan
- Atacama Desert, Chile
- The Scenic Rim, Australia
- Vancouver Island, Canada
- Burgundy, France
