Lonely Planet Recommends Ukraine as Your 2012 Tourist Destination

KYIV, Ukraine, November 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

The reputable British tourist guide Lonely Planet chose Ukraine as one of the top three tourist destinations for 2012. Uganda and Burma occupy the first two spots of the list. Ukraine, the second runner-up, is referred to as the great unknown of Europe. Lonely Planet argues that people don't know much about Ukraine and tend to make up stereotypes to fill in the gaps in their knowledge.

The guide is convinced that the country has plenty to offer for tourists. Lonely Planet begins the story on Ukraine with a joke: "Wide-scale counter-espionage? No, not even in Odessa. Communist grime everywhere you look? One glimpse of glorious Old Town Kiev or the wildlife on unspoiled Crimean shores will set you straight. Cheap beer? You bet: it's cheaper than water." And on the story goes.

The description of Ukraine by Lonely Planet travelers informs the reader about the upcoming European football championship - EURO-2012. The authors believe that the championship will offer Ukraine a chance to attract the "unprecedented numbers of visitors".

The seasoned explorers of Lonely Planet could not ignore one of the most famous, if not tragic, tourist attractions of Ukraine - Chernobyl. The site of one of the greatest nuclear disasters of all times is often the only thing foreigners can think of when asked about what they knew about the country.

Besides Uganda, Burma, and Ukraine, the top ten places to go and things to do all around the world include Jordan, Denmark, Bhutan, Cuba, New Caledonia, Taiwan, and Switzerland. The new book prepared by Lonely Planet experts Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2012 contains travel inspiration and tips for the upcoming year.

Lonely Planet is the largest travel guide book and digital media publisher in the world. According to The Independent (UK), Lonely Planet was founded in 1972 by two British travelers - Tony and Maureen Wheeler - and is based in Melbourne's western suburbs. The Wheelers arrived to Australia having travelled Asia. They began with publishing a guide to South-East Asia, which they managed to explore with little money in their pockets. Since then the company has turned into the largest travel guide publisher in the world, reports The Independent.