Study: Penang Voted as 8th Best Island in Asia Pacific in 2024

The Malaysian islands are truly the country’s gemstones, offering experiences that make them an ideal destination for any type of holiday. While many islands in the region could be named as favourites, there are a few that stand out and capture our hearts!

Penang Island has won the admiration of travellers worldwide, earning a spot among the best islands in the Asia Pacific, according to Incredible Asia.

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Penang slips from 7th last year to 8th in the rankings

Based on Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2024, Penang has secured the 8th spot among the top 10 best islands in the Asia Pacific, dropping from 7th place in 2023.

Leading the list is Thailand’s second-largest island, Koh Samui. Following closely are Bali, Indonesia, and Palawan, Philippines, which are ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Phu Quoc in Vietnam was ranked 10th among the best islands in the Asia-Pacific, dropping from its 8th place in 2023, a spot now held by Penang, Malaysia.

Best cities in Asia Pacific

Besides ranking the best islands, Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2024 also surveyed their readers to determine the top cities in Asia Pacific for 2024. Kuala Lumpur secured the 3rd spot last year but did not make the list this year.

Bangkok, Thailand retains its top spot as the best city in the Asia Pacific, maintaining its position from last year.

Osaka, Japan, absent from the global rankings last year, impressively secured 2nd place on the 2024 list. Tokyo, Japan follows in 3rd place, moving up from 5th position in 2023.

Explore the full list of top 10 cities across Asia Pacific for the best cities in Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2024 below:

1. Bangkok, Thailand
2. Osaka, Japan
3. Tokyo, Japan
4. Dubai, UAE
5. Kyoto, Japan
6. Hoi An, Vietnam
7. Hong Kong
8. Seoul, South Korea
9. Singapore
10. Taipei, Taiwan

Would you say Penang deserves its 8th spot? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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