Fashion and lifestyle publication, Vogue Australia has named Perth's Kings Park as one of the 'best parks in our favourite cities', placing the popular tourism attraction in the company of Central Park in New York City and the Summer Palace in Beijing.
The travel article, published this week, celebrates the correlation between green spaces and desirable cities, quoting a Parks Victoria and Deakin University report that found spending time in nature has physical, mental, social, and even spiritual benefits for people of all ages.
Vogue.com.au has a monthly unique audience of 502,000.
Kings Park immerses visitors in the unique WA environment and local culture, and is loved by locals and tourists alike. It is one of the largest city parks in the world, and one of the few to boast such a prime inner-city location with stunning views.
The park shows off the best of the State with stunning displays of WA wildflowers, landscapes and a celebration of local culture and heritage.
The rise of eco-tourism and the desire for tourists to 'go where the locals are' is increasing the appeal of the Kings Park experience. About 10 per cent of visitors to Kings Park are international and a further 10 per cent are from other parts of Australia.
Evidence indicates Kings Park is hitting the spot with visitors from around the globe. Ninety nine per cent of Kings Park visitors have rated their experience of the park as satisfying or very satisfying for the past five years in a row, according to annual surveys. The park also continues to account for three of the top 10 visitor-rated Perth attractions on TripAdvisor.
As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
"Kings Park and Botanic Garden is the most visited destination in Western Australia, so it's really exciting to see it recognised nationally and internationally.
"I want to see people use and explore our beautiful parks here in Western Australia, so recognition that Kings Park is one of the world's best public spaces is a step in the right direction."
As stated by Tourism Minister Paul Papalia:
"Kings Park is one of the jewels in Perth's tourism crown, so it's no surprise it has made this list.
"Western Australia's natural attractions are a significant drawcard for holiday-makers.
"In fact the latest statistics show the number of international and interstate holiday-makers travelling to WA are growing by 12 per cent and 20 per cent respectively."
