EDITORIAL COMMENTS ON WORLD TRAVEL GUIDE:

The World Travel Guide is designed primarily to convey useful information for travellers going aboard in their selection of holiday destinations for specific purpose and itinerary. The author had chosen 33 world’s top tourism destinations for rating purposes in their areas of tourism popularity. However, travellers are advised to consult their local travel agents before embarking on their journey.

The author’s frequent fact-finding trips covering from east-west and north-south regions and had visited more than two-third of major world countries in compiling and rating of the World Travel Guide and upon close consultations with many fellow globe-trotters in the travel industry with a view to provide an objective traveller-friendly guide handbook to both travellers at home and aboard.

Travellers’ expectations, interests and budgets vary dramatically, most of them are interested to view exquisite-natural scenery at its best (see pages 11-13 & 24-28) or searching for crystal-clear sea beaches (see pages 14 & 29-30) or having fun times at the exotic entertainment hotspots (see pages 17 & 35-36), whilst historic travellers are hoping to witness the seven (7) wonders of the world – pages 5 to 10 and so on. Invariably, holiday-makers include shopping as part of their itinerary, some tourists may go for expensive taste of world-class fashion whilst budget travellers would prefer unique local products at reasonable price.

Thus, hotel rates and shopping guide are divided into 2 distinct categories, viz. the upper price range (H) and lower price range (L) in term of U.S. dollars as the benchmark, as enumerated from pages 3 to 4. For comparison purposes, the upper price range (H) will be 50% or more than lower price range (L) based on similar stars of hotels for rating purposes which offer comparable facilities and services elsewhere and in relation to personal articles for sale are of merchantable quality.

The World Travel Guide will help to make your worldwide travelling more meaningful and with less pitfalls if all preparations are carefully planned before the journey by reference to the World Travel Information – pages 54 to 55 which outlined basic travel formalities, world data, the prevailing climatic conditions during your visit and all other pertinent data contained in this Handbook. Conversant with common languages spoken will certainly make your travelling more convenient and informative as shown in the World Countries, Languages & Currencies – pages 56 to 58.

Certain countries have 4 seasons, namely winter, summer, spring and autumn whereas other countries have 2 distinct seasons, i.e. mild winter and summer, or spring only or even an all-round summer climate in South East Asia countries and tropical region. The World Temperatures and World Rainfall Conditions – pages 59 to 62. will serve as a guide to your travelling need overseas.

Whilst every effort has been taken by our editorial staff to compile as many well-known places for sightseeing and as objective as possible in our rating exercise, but certain environmental changes may affect its accuracy. In view of the diversity and enormous tourism information worldwide coupled with space constraint, only prominent places are included in our review and this should not be construed as a complete and exhaustive list of interesting places pertaining to each country’s profile.

Our rating system is based on status of world-class standard as there is no consensus of opinion on ratings of worldwide tourism destinations. All the 47 beautiful pictures are carefully selected from hundreds of scenic pictures worldwide – pages 11 to 22 coupled with 482 illustrations of popular tourism places under respective Country Profiles – pages 24 to 44, fairly represent the 33 World’s Top Tourism destinations. The objectivity of our rating exercise is to ensure not only the destinations enjoy high tourism popularity but equally important is their accessibility to visitors all-year round and at all times. Above all, the significant number of such prominent places under each country profile is also taken into consideration.

Eddie Kok,