Travel Report Says 9/11 Memorial Puts NYC Atop 2011 Tourist Destination List

Modest-upstart-turned-global-brand Lonely Planet, which is largely controlled by BBC Worldwide, is a company committed to independent travel, trustworthy advice and editorial independence, according to the company's website.

Lonely Planet has released its visitors destination list for 2011 and placed New York City at the top of the ranking.  The reason? The opening of the 9/11 Memorial next year. 

Here's what the website said:

"Since 9/11, the site of the World Trade Center’s twin towers has stood out as a closed-off, out-of-view, painful gaping void. This year that changes, as the former WTC site finally reopens to the public with the National September 11 Memorial, a 6-acre, tree-filled plaza with 30ft-deep waterfalls at the footprint of the former towers, rimmed by the name of each victim and illuminated at night (its museum will follow in 2012). For the city, this will be more momentous than if the Yankees, Knicks, Rangers and Giants won simultaneous championships while the ball dropped in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. For all of New York, 11 September 2011 will be a defining moment."

See how other places fared on Lonely Planet's list.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff