Bali has again been recognized by a distinguished travel magazine as the best island in the Asia-Pacific region for 2009, Antara state news agency has reported. “Bali has been honored as The Best Island in Asia Pacific 2009 by DestinAsian Magazine in Hong Kong,” Culture and Tourism Ministry’s director for promotion facilities Esthy Reko Astuty said Thursday.

She said Bali won the honor through a poll in DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards in a survey which sought readers’ opinions on their favorite destinations, hotels, and airlines in the Asia-Pacific region and announced every February. “Bali has been chosen four times consecutively as the Best Island in Asia Pacific by DestinAsia Magazine since 2006,” she said.

DestinAsia Magazine is a travel magazine published and marketed in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Australia, Taiwan and several Middle Eastern countries.

In response to the award, she said the ministry plans to improve the quality of the island’s tourism.

According to Bali Tourism Office records, Bali has garnered at least 25 awards from various international magazines and countries since 1998. Most of the awards were given to Bali for its unique destination and natural beauty found nowhere else in the world.