Australia tops Country Brand Index

Australia, New Zealand and India are the only three markets in Asia Pacific to make the top-10 list of the Country Brand Index, the second annual survey compiled by FutureBrand in conjunction with Weber Shandwick.

Australia finished first, with the USA and Italy in second and third respectively, while New Zealand was eighth and India tenth. China, was ranked as one of the survey's top three rising stars.

The study canvassed the opinions of more than 1,500 international travellers, travel industry experts and hospitality professionals, ranking countries across a number of criteria, including tourism, investment, trade and industry.