Harbour Island rated best island in the Caribbean

Source: Bahamas.com

Harbour Island, well-known around the world for its breathtaking beaches, was recently ranked the best island in the Caribbean by Travel + Leisure magazine.

NASSAU, In its 10th annual poll, readers of the elite travel magazine rated Harbour Island number one in the region on its World's Best Cities and Islands list. Among the islands of the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda, Harbour Island was named "Number One." The prestigious award was received from Travel + Leisure on the Minister of Tourism's behalf by Basil Smith, director of communications in the Ministry of Tourism at a reception in New York City on July 14, 2005.

Elated that The Islands Of The Bahamas received yet another destination award, Director General of Tourism Vernice Walkine described the accolades bestowed on Harbour Island as fitting for the idyllic, picturesque destination.

"This recent recognition is just one of the many international awards Harbour Island has received over the years. We consider this island one of our gems within The Islands Of The Bahamas," Ms. Walkine said. "What's even more rewarding is the fact that this designation was awarded by the readers of Travel + Leisure, who would have based their decision on visits to our beautiful island."

Harbour Island, or "Briland" as it is affectionately called by long-term residents, is just three miles long with a breathtaking stretch of pink sand beach spanning one end to the next. Just recently, the beaches of Harbour Island were rated amongst the top 10 in the world by Caribbean Travel & Life magazine.

Earlier this year, Conde Nast Traveler magazine editor Dana Dickey gave special mention to the beaches of Harbour Island on ABC's "The View." In the special segment dubbed "The Best Beaches in America," the travel editor raved about the beaches of Briland. Harbour Island was the only international beach location featured during the segment.

Briland's win extends a hot streak for The Bahamas in some of the most widely read magazines on the globe. Travel + Leisure's (circ. 965,000) November 2004 cover asked: What's Hot Now? Answer: The Bahamas. The Islands Of The Bahamas was named THE HOT ISLAND for 2004 by Condé Nast Traveler (circ. 780,000) in the magazine's annual Hot List. With the hottest islands in the world, The Bahamas were a perfect backdrop for the 2005 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Andros and Exuma appeared on the cover and across 11 pages of the issue perused annually by 59 million readers.

ACCEPTING AWARD — Director of Communications at the Ministry of Tourism, Basil Smith (Centre), accepted the Travel + Leisure's Best Island in the Caribbean award at a lavish reception in New York on behalf of the Minister of Tourism, Obie Wilchcombe. Also pictured are Ellen Asmodeo, VP/Publisher, Travel + Leisure (Left) and Nancy Novogrod, Editor-in-Chief, Travel + Leisure.


Source: Bahamas.com