New Zealand tops honeymoon poll

New Zealand has been voted as the top dream honeymoon destination by viewers of the USA Today show.

About 5.5 million Americans voted for the country as the best place to send a pair of newlyweds whose wedding was put together by the programme.

New Zealand beat other countries such as Barbados, Vietnam and Peru in the poll and was voted for by viewers around the world.

In addition, the country scooped the best long-haul destination award in the Guardian, Observer and Guardian Unlimited Travel Awards, which were held in Cape Town.

"With the mass of media in the US and UK, we are continually challenged with how to keep up our profile - recognition such as this is something we just couldn't pay for," commented George Hickton, chief executive of Tourism New Zealand.

Other winners at the Guardian awards ceremony included Singapore Airlines as best long-haul airline, Edinburgh as best UK city and Sweden as best European country.

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