The Vancouver Island tourism industry, struggling to recover from the pandemic over the past two years, got a huge boost Wednesday when one of the world’s most popular travel guides gave the Island a top-destination ranking.

Vancouver Island was ranked the ninth-best region in the world by Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2022. It was the only Canadian location to make the lists of top-10 countries, cities and regions.

“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,” said Anthony Everett, president 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 17th annual edition puts an emphasis on sustainable travel experiences. Each location is selected for its unique experiences, the wow-factors and ongoing commitments to sustainable tourism practices.

“This criteria is particularly meaningful given Tourism Vancouver Island’s dedication to developing and promoting responsible and sustainable travel,” said Janet Docherty, chair of Tourism Vancouver Island. “We thank the residents of the Island for contributing to making the region a special place to live and visit.”

Lonely Planet accepts nominations from its staff, writers, bloggers and publishing partners. The publisher’s panel of travel experts then selects the top-10 lists.

Top 10 Regions

1. Westfjords, Iceland

2. West Virginia, United States

3. Xishuangbanna, China

4. Kent’s Heritage Coast, United Kingdom

5. Puerto Rico

6. Shikoku, Japan

7. Atacama Desert, Chile

8. The Scenic Rim, Australia

9. Vancouver Island, Canada

10. Burgundy, France

Top 10 Countries

1. Cook Islands

2. Norway

3. Mauritius

4. Belize

5. Slovenia

6. Anguilla

7. Oman

8. Nepal

9. Malawi

10. Egypt

Top 10 Cities

1. Auckland, New Zealand

2. Taipei, Taiwan

3. Freiburg, Germany

4. Atlanta, United States

5. Lagos, Nigeria

6. Nicosia/Lefkosia, Cyprus

7. Dublin, Ireland

8. Merida, Mexico

9. Florence, Italy

10. Gyeongju, South Korea