Durban, South Africa joins Beirut in Lebanon, Doha in Qatar, Havana in Cuba, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, La Paz in Bolivia and Vigan in the Philippines as recipients of the esteemed title as one of the New7Wonders Cities.

Bernard Weber, Founder-President of New7Wonders,announced the election of the New7Wonders Cities in a ceremony in Dubai, on Monday.

The cities were selected from more than 1 200 nominees from 220 different countries and best represent the global diversity of urban society. The New7Wonders Cities campaign is the third global vote organised by New7Wonders, following the New7Wonders of the World and New7Wonders of Nature.

Durban is considered a laid-back, fun and welcoming city for visitors and locals alike. With its warm ocean, excellent surf, thriving nightlife, great sporting facilities, gorgeous coastline of sun-kissed beaches and subtropical climate, situated on the eastern seaboard of Africa, it’s no wonder Durban has been voted as one of the best cities on the planet.

This is South Africa’s second accolade from the New7Wonders Foundation. In 2011, Table Mountain in Cape Town was inaugurated as one of the New7Wonders of Nature.