Disneyland has nothing on Sydney according to a new survey
Close your eyes for a moment and imagine, if you will, the happiest city on Earth. You likely envision an urban paradise pasted yellow with sunshine, surf and fine dining – but do you think of Sydney?
Apparently, the rest of the world does. According to Forbes, Sydney stands as the second happiest city in the world (behind Rio de Janeiro) – and Melbourne crops up at number five.
According to the international survey, Sydney is known for its ‘balmy weather, friendly locals and iconic opera house’ and has been helped along by its association with a popular ‘brand’: Australia.
However, policy advisor Simon Anholt and market researcher GfK Custom Research North America, who conducted the research, say the results are more likely demonstrating the ideas that those living outside of Australia have about our two largest cities.
"It's where everybody would like to go," says Anholt. "Everybody thinks they know Australia because they've seen Crocodile Dundee. There's this image of this nation of people who basically sit around having barbecues."
"This is a survey of perception,” he adds, “not a survey of reality.”
Anholt says his findings more or less support historical trends, with one notable exception.
"The cities on this list would probably be the same if I'd been running this survey in 1890, aside from Sydney and Melbourne," he says. "Australia is kind of a branding miracle."
Top Ten Happiest Cities in the World
10. Buenos Aieres
9 Paris
8 Rome
7 San Francisco
6 Madrid
5 Melbourne
4 Amsterdam
3 Barcelona
2 Sydney
1 Rio de Janeiro
