South Africa's Cape Town has been voted the best travel destination in African and the Middle East for the fifth year running by readers of an American magazine, it was reported on Saturday.

Travel and Leisure Magazine placed Cape Town ahead of Marrakesh, Fez of Morocco, Jerusalem and Cairo in the Top African and Middle East City category in its annual survey.

Cape Town was also voted the eighth best city in the world to visit.

The overall top ten were Sydney, Bangkok, Rome, Florence, Chiang Mai of Thailand, New York, Istanbul, Cape Town, Oaxaca of Mexico and San Francisco.

It is the tenth year for the magazine to conduct the survey among its readers worldwide, according to the magazine's website www.travelandleisure.com.

The 2005 World's Best Awards recognized readers' favorite hotels, cities, islands, tour operators and safari outfitters, airlines, cruise lines, and car-rental agencies.

South Africa's Micato Safaris led the World's Best Tour Operators and Safari Outfitters list.

The Singita Private Game Reserve in Sabi Sands, which lies on the edge of South Africa's renowned Kruger National Park, was also voted the best hotel in the African region.

Other top honors were taken by Bali as the World's Best Island, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan as the best hotel, Singapore Airlines as the best international airline, Hertz as the best car-rental agency, Crystal Cruises as the best large-ship cruise line and Yachts of Seabourn as the best small-ship cruise line.

Crystal Cruises, Hertz, and Singapore Airlines have been ranked at top in their respective categories every year for the past ten years, the magazine said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2005)