Uluru has ranked third in Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List for 2020, which takes into account the changes in travel due to coronavirus, the travel guide book publisher said.

Lonely Planet’s publishing vice president Piers Pickard said the second edition for the year has focused on tourism sustainability.

“For this edition, we awarded extra points to destinations and attractions that are managing tourism sustainably,” Mr Pickard said.

Uluru has climbed the ranking of the travel list book which ranks 500 experiences around the world.

Ranked 33 in 2019, this year Uluru has only come behind Petra in Jordan and the Galapagos Islands.

Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles said the ranking is well deserved

“This is… fantastic recognition for the Northern Territory, recognising the traditional owners, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park board of management and tourism operators who work tirelessly to share stories and their culture with visitors,” she said.

Lonely Planet sales and marketing director Chris Zeiher said for him personally, the depth of experiences and connections of the park made it such a valuable and unforgettable travel experience.

The complete list will be in the Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List book but eight other Australian experiences made the list, Lonely Planet said.

This comes as quarantine-free travel to the NT set to begin for Sydney from October 9, for New Zealand from midnight on October 16 and for regional Victoria from November 2.

With travel restrictions easing Mr Pickard said its time to start planning where to go next.

“After seven months of staying at home, now’s the perfect time to start thinking about where and how to travel once normality returns,” Mr Pickard said.

“In putting together this book, we were excited by changes in both the ‘where’ and the ‘how’.”

The eight other Australian destinations to make the list are: Great Barrier Reef; Sydney Harbour and Opera House; Lord Howe Island; Kangaroo Island; Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay; Silo Art Trail; Ningaloo Marine Park and MoNA.