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Barossa voted in world's top 10

23 October 2008

The Barossa has been named one of the world's top-10 wine destinations by the world's largest online travel community, TripAdvisor.

The iconic South Australian wine region was the only Australian destination to make it onto the prestigious list, alongside European regions such as Bordeaux and Tuscany.

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says the listing is significant because it was based not just on TripAdvisor editors' opinions, but also on the Barossa's popularity with travellers.

"The TripAdvisor website is home to more than 15 million reviews of holiday destinations and products written by real travellers who want to share their experiences with others," she says.

"South Australia, and in particular the Barossa, is obviously being highly praised by those who have visited here for a holiday.

"The Internet is the place where more and more travellers are researching their holidays, and its importance as a tool to spread the word about visiting South Australia cannot be underestimated."

In its list of the world's top-10 wine destinations, TripAdvisor praised the Barossa as:
"this scenic region in Southern Australia (which) is highly regarded for its Shiraz and its other robust varieties of red wine.

Characterized by its visibly rich German heritage, along with its rolling, vine-covered hills, Barossa Valley is a uniquely beautiful destination for sightseers and wine connoisseurs alike."

During the year to June 2008, 195,000 visitors spent 581,000 nights in the Barossa, while 785,000 domestic day-trippers also visited the region during the same period.

"Being named as one of the world's top-10 wine destinations shows just how marketable the region is as a tourist destination," Minister Lomax-Smith says.