Northern Territory named among world's best travel destinations

THE Territory has been named one of the world's top 20 travel destinations.

Mauricio Ruiz Barroso

THE Territory has been named alongside Colorado's Rocky Mountains and the Cacao Trails in Ecuador as one of the world's top 20 travel destinations.

Inclusion on the National Geographic Best of the World list is considered a coup as Tourism NT attempts to rebuild visitor numbers that have slumped in recent years.

The NT was the only Australian destination in the top 20.

The article in National Geographic Traveler magazine tells potential tourists the Top End "wears colors that sing: rust red earth, deep blue skies, and the golden eyes of watchful crocodiles in the flower-tangled waterways of Kakadu National Park".

Mauricio Ruiz Barroso, 21, is visiting the Territory from his home in Mexico City.

Mr Barroso said the "cage of death" at Crocosaurus Cove was a huge reason he was drawn to the Top End.

"Where else can you swim with a crocodile?" he said.

"It's so different ... but I feel very happy that I came here."

The Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta gets a mention in the National Geographic article, as does East Point restaurant Pee Wee's at the Point.

"Visitors can gaze at Rainbow Serpent rock art from one of the longest-existing societies on Earth, while the artists can live on the land in peace," the article says.

"Frontier town Darwin sports an energetic facelift, with an interactive history museum, a redeveloped waterfront, a deck chair cinema, and a flurry of cosmopolitan markets."

NT Tourism Minister Matt Conlan said the magazine would reach 7.6 million readers. "The exposure the NT will get from making this list will be enormous with the magazine published in 12 languages and in 21 different countries," he said.

"It means now the whole world knows the Territory is the place to visit if you want an unforgettable holiday."

The magazine's editor, Keith Bellows, said the list was not based on travel statistics or celebrity sightings.

"It reflects the expertise and experience of National Geographic Traveler's huge network of global travel experts. If you want to explore places worth visiting now, this is a great place to start."