Bermuda is the best tourist destination island in the Caribbean region, according to the readers of a prestigious American travel magazine.

Travel and Leisure also named The Reefs as the best hotel in the area, and as 23rd best in the world, as part of its 2002 awards.

The magazine, which with 4.5 million readers has the largest circulation of any travel publication in the world, decided the awards based on results of an online poll, in which hundreds of thousands took part.

Bermuda was awarded with 82.82 points out of a hundred, and chosen ahead of St. Bart's (80.77), St. John (80.75), Virgin Gorda (80.55) and Nevis (80.15).

The Island came 23rd in the world category, ahead of such places as Oahu, the Maldives and the Seychelles.

A Tourism spokesman said the criteria on which readers decided included natural attractions, activities, sightseeing and restaurants and also the character and attitude of residents as well as value for money.

He added that The Reefs, which received 91.72 points out of a hundred, was chosen for the standard of its rooms, facilities, service, food, restaurant and value delivered to guests.

The Elbow Beach resort was chosen as the 24th best in the region, with a score of 82.72.

The Royal Gazette got a sneak preview of the magazine's August edition, which hits the news stands today.

It notes that Bermuda had been swept by "renovation fever" following the passage of the Hotels Concessions Act, which granted hotels "generous tax incentives".

And its cites the Island's two Fairmont hotels as having had "soup-to-nuts redos", along with Ariel Sands and Cambridge Beaches, which "is now completely freshened up".

The article also points to the reconstruction of Castle Harbour golf course and the introduction of the new Tucker's Point Golf Club, a par 70 "with elevated greens and sculpted bunkers".

Tourism Minister David Allen said the awards provided "irrefutable proof that Bermuda's tourism policies and our marketing strategies are working."

"I welcome these two awards with equal pleasure. I thank and congratulate all in our tourism sector, and indeed all of the Bermudian people, who are the critical ingredient in our overall product."

He added: "I extend special congratulations to David Dodwell and his team at The Reefs on operating the hotel that has been chosen as the best in the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas. This notable double adds greatly to the cachet of Bermuda among the region's and the world's preferred resort destinations."