Bermuda has been voted the second best island in the world by readers of a prestigious travel publication.

Conde Nast Traveler readers rated islands on their beaches, friendliness, infrastructure, food, accommodations and the overall experience they offered visitors.

And Bermuda finished a very close second behind Maui in Hawaii in a listing of the top 100.

The announcement was made during the American Society of Travel Agent's World Congress which was held in Los Angeles last week. On hand was Tourism Director Gary Phillips.

He told The Royal Gazette : "Conde Nast Traveler is one of the premier publications in the travel industry. Each year they have their reader's choice awards.

"A statistically significant sampling of their readership are asked a number of questions about their experiences in travel. They are also asked to nominate the best hotels, cruise lines and places with the best service, etcetera.'' Besides being named the runner up in the list of the top 100 islands around the globe, Bermuda received attention in another category of the reader's survey also.

Cambridge Beaches cracked the top five in the list of the top 20 spa/resorts around the globe with a fifth place finish.

Mr. Phillips also pointed out that Celebrity Cruises -- which presently serves Bermuda -- and Princess Cruises -- who are due to begin serving Bermuda in 2000 -- both made the top ten list of best cruise lines.

Outside of the Conde Nast Awards, the Island figured in two other presentations, he continued.

Bermuda received a special award from ASTA for the contribution it had made to providing professional education to the North American travel agency community.

And the wedding magazine Modern Bride recognised Bermuda as one of the top ten honeymoon destinations in the world.

The Island had a booth at ASTA's World Congress and Mr. Phillips estimated that some 6,500 people attended the event.

The Tourism Department focussed on marketing the November to March period on Island and highlighted the available entertainment, sightseeing and sporting opportunities available.

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