An Air New Zealand Plane Flies Over Mount Victoria
IN PHOTO: An Air New Zealand plane flies over houses in Mount Victoria as it approaches Wellington airport, October 7, 2011. Reuters/Marcos Brindicci

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key welcomed the news that New Zealand was named the world's best country in the Telegraph Travel awards. Readers of The Telegraph voted the small island nation as their favourite country.

According to the Telegraph, almost 90,000 people participated by casting their votes in the survey. Mr Key described his country's latest achievement as a "great accolade" since tourism is a significant contributor to New Zealand's economy.

The announcement of the results was recently held at the Banking Hall in central London. Mr Key said the public's voting of New Zealand as their best country bodes well for the country's tourism industry. He believes one of the "real strengths" in tourism is New Zealand living up to the hype. He is proud to say that when tourists come to New Zealand, they get an experience better than what brochures have promised.

The New Zealand government has invested $600 million in tourism including its promotion since 2008. Mr Key believes New Zealand's win indicated that tourists from Europe and North America are returning to the country after the global financial crisis, according to Stuff.co. The prime minister also congratulated Air New Zealand for being named airlineratings.com's Airline of the Year for the third time.

New Zealand has won the best country category several times. Telegraph Travel head of print Ben Ross said the readers' love for New Zealand remains the same. The country has won the award for the third straight year. Ross believes New Zealand is able to deliver nearly everything a traveller might want. He said British tourists can enjoy long-haul flights to New Zealand and wonder at the "dramatic scenery" before them.

Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said in a New Zealand Herald report that the award only supported the country's international image as the "must visit" holiday destination. He also welcomed the news as a great endorsement at a time New Zealand is seeing an increase in tourism growth from the UK. About 2.8 million people visited the country in 2013 and spent a combined $7 billion.

Runners-up in the best country category were Maldives and South Africa. In the best city category, Cape Town was voted the winner.