''Quite an accolade.''
That is how Lake Wanaka Tourism general manager James Helmore describes the town's ranking at No 94 on a list of the 500 best places in the world to visit.
The list was published by Lonely Planet and featured Fiordland National Park at 17, Lake Wanaka at 94 and Stewart Island at 125.
Mr Helmore said the New Zealand places featured were all ''off the beaten track''.
''It's nice to be associated with all those other locations in New Zealand as well. It's not just `here's the glitz and glamour', front-of-mind stuff. This has actually got some thought behind it.''
Mr Helmore said Lonely Planet had a lot of respect worldwide.
''I guess it appeals more to the traveller who likes to get off the beaten track and go and explore. That's certainly the audience we try to communicate with, so it's invaluable profile.''
Mr Helmore said it would be ''quite hard'' to quantify the value of the ranking, although increased social media traffic would provide some indication.
''We know from previous experience that this gives us a big boost to an audience that matters to us.''
In 2012, Wanaka benefited by being ranked by American Outside magazine as the best new adventure hub in the world, he said.
Destination Fiordland tourism manager Philippa Murrell, said Fiordland National Park's No 17 ranking was ''superb''.
''Fiordland takes a lot of beating and it turns out Lonely Planet believes there are only 16 other attractions on the globe ranked above it.''
Venture Southland Tourism team leader Warrick Low said the ranking was ''outstanding''.
''International and domestic media coverage generated by the publication of this list is incalculable.''
Real Journeys chief executive Richard Lauder said the company was ''really pleased'' with the Lonely Planet rankings because it operated in all three of the best places in the south of New Zealand that were listed.
''We've been sharing Fiordland National Park with visitors for over 60 years, so we're not at all surprised that it's on the list.''
He said Real Journeys also won the Tourism Export Council ''operator of the year'' award on Monday night.
