London (November 5, 2019) - The Cook Islands has been voted one of the top 30 emerging travel destinations on the planet for 2020, and the top overall destination within Oceania and the South Pacific. The annual awards honoring trending destinations were published this morning on the site TravelLemming.com, which promotes emerging destinations around the world as a solution to overtourism. 

The article with the full list of winners can be found here.

Winners were selected after voting by 30 of the most popular travel bloggers in the industry, who collectively sport more than 12 million followers on social media.

"Cook Islands Tourism is honoured to accept this award.  The work continues to improve the sustainability of our little paradise.  In April of this year, the Mana Tiaki eco-certification programme was launched in partnership with Te Ipukarea Society, National Environment Service, Ridge 2 Reef and Cook Islands Tourism Corporation.  This is just one example of our long-term commitment to making the Cook Islands a more sustainable destination for our people and our visitors.”  stated Karla Eggelton, Global Sales and Marketing Manager.

In describing why The Cook Islands was selected, the article reads: "Someone better tell the Maldives to move over, because intrepid beach lovers have found a new paradise in the pristine azure waters and powdery white sands of The Cook Islands. Mix in a little Polynesian tradition and abundant marine life, and you can see why this South Pacific archipelago is ready to contend for the title of the world's best island destination. But the best reason to visit The Cook Islands in 2020? It's a country that appears to be taking the charge of responsible development seriously, setting aside over 1 million square kilometers of marine conservation area, leading the world in its renewable energy targets, and focusing its development efforts on eco-tourism. Bravo!"

"The Cook Islands is the one place in the world that fully meets my definition of paradise. It's gorgeous! If you're looking for fresh seafood, welcoming locals, and some of the best beaches on the planet, it's definitely the destination to head to," said Lauren Juliff, one of the judges and the travel blogger behind Never Ending Footsteps. 

The site is also inviting readers to cast votes for their favorite destination, with winners on each continent being crowned with the annual Readers' Choice Award.

Travel Lemming is a travel blog founded by Nate Hake, an American who has been traveling the world full-time since 2016. The site's mission is to help highlight emerging and underappreciated destinations as a way to fight overtourism.