Albany voted second-best Australian city for cultural experiences relative to population in Preply study

A recent study by a top language learning platform named Albany the second-best city in Australia for cultural experiences per capita. Conducted by Preply, the May 30 study compared 50 of Australia’s most populated cities across eight different categories to determine which city offered the most tourism relative to the size of its population. The indicators looked at the number of cultural tours, hatted restaurants, cultural attractions, museums, theatre events, libraries, concerts and shows and markets. Albany, which recorded 8.7 cultural experiences per resident and was the only West Australian town to appear on the list, was beaten only by Alice Springs which boasted 14.2 experiences per resident. The language platform conducted the study as the next step for those learning English to showcase lesser-known places in Australia that can deepen learners’ cultural understanding. City of Albany executive director of corporate and commercial services Matthew Gilfellon said the city was passionate about keeping Albany’s reputation as a tourist destination and encouraging big events like the upcoming Maritime Festival and smaller affairs like a clean beach or nice meal. “Albany is known for its natural beauty, but there are also some lesser-known qualities that add to the Albany experience such as quality museums, fantastic opportunities to have a nice meal and a number of events and shows throughout the year,” he said. “The city has many different areas that all support tourism — from running the National Anzac Centre and Albany Visitor Centre, supporting Cruise Ship Days to working with others to promote Albany as a tourist destination.” The other eight cities named in the top 10 include Wagga Wagga (NSW), Darwin (NT), Orange (NSW), Bathurst (NSW), Port Macquarie (NSW), Launceston (TAS), Cairns (QLD) and Gladstone (QLD). Preply spokesperson Sylvia Johnson said the online learning platform was “thrilled” to highlight the offerings of regional Australian towns like Albany. “Australia’s cultural landscape is as diverse as it is vibrant, and we hope this campaign inspires people to explore and appreciate the rich cultural experiences each city has to offer,” she said. “Our study shines a light on cities with fantastic cultural attractions such as Albany, which is a must-visit for anyone who loves natural splendour. “Rich with history and full of restaurants doing amazing things with the local produce, we’re excited to see Albany rank in second place for culture in Australia.”