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 In a recent survey of 194 countries, Australia was voted the second best place to live, well ahead of Britain which came in at 25. The best place to hang your hat, according to the poll, was France. This was the fifth year in a row that France topped the list.
Why did the UK fail to impress? The survey asked respondents to consider a number of factors from climate to crime rate to resources and cost of living. When taken together, Britain did not score particularly well. In fact, it fell down five spots from last year's survey.
As for the top two ranked countries, it is no surprise that France and Australia are two of the most popular destinations for UK tourists, though flights to Perth took a hit during the recession. Overall, arrivals from the UK fell by more than ten percent in 2009.
Though travel companies reported a three percent improvement in the first half of 2010, it is unlikely that the Australian travel industry will return to profitability until the economy of the UK rebounds a bit. High unemployment and debt means that families in Britain are opting for more economical holiday packages.
As you might expect, airfares from the UK to Australia are extremely expensive, which is part of the problem. Though tourism has rebounded a bit, the current trend is for short trips and cheaper hotel accommodations.
PHOTO: A stroll along the Swan river in Perth, Western Australia, with the Perth skyline in the background.
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