GLASGOW'S international reputation has received a boost after it was named as one of the top places to visit in 2012 by a leading American newspaper.
The New York Times listed Glasgow at number 12 in its "45 places to go in 2012" list largely because of its "stunning" new Riverside Museum, designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid.
It also cites the "shiny new harbour and river promenade" as one of the main reasons to visit.
It says: "Its location, along the River Clyde, was once home to many shipyards, and considered the economic heart of Glasgow. But when the industry left, the area stagnated.
"Not anymore. Glasgow has spent more than a decade redeveloping 130 acres of derelict shipyard and unused dockland in an effort to restore the waterway to its former glory.
"Now there's a pleasant riverside walkway with steel street furniture, cobblestones from Victorian Glasgow and maritime paraphernalia."
Glasgow is the only Scottish destination to make it on to the paper's list.
Other UK cities recommended are London and Birmingham, while hot spots around the world include Panama, Burma, Tokyo, Tanzania, Moscow and Antarctica.
The accolade comes after a guidebook published last summer said Glasgow had become a "byword for style and chic".
The ninth edition of Lonely Planet Great Britain described the city as having "a warmth and energy that leaves every visitor impressed".
It called Glasgow "the king of Scotland's live-music scene" and "a shopping paradise", and it said the city had the best food north of the Border.
Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council and chairman of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: "It's been more than 25 years since Glasgow sought to reinvent its global image by focussing on the rich and varied cultural offering of the city.
"The Riverside Museum is the latest blockbuster in Glasgow and the international accolades the building and the collection have received has brought the city to the attention of new audiences everywhere.
"In recent years, the world's leading publications and renowned travel guides have consistently ranked Glasgow as a must-visit destination, highlighting the city's warmth, style and energy, which is great news both in terms of the economic benefit and the heightening of our global profile.
"I'm delighted the New York Times recognises, as Glaswegians do, that this is a vibrant and exciting city with lots to offer, including magnificent architecture, museums and galleries.
"This recommendation, coming from such an important publication based in a city that is also famed for its architecture and culture, is high praise indeed and it's certainly very gratifying to be listed in the company of such wonderful cities as Tokyo, Moscow and San Diego."
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, added: "The Riverside Museum is one of a number of spectacular developments to have taken place in Glasgow over recent years and we are delighted, although not surprised, by the city's inclusion on this list.
"It is another ringing endorsement of Glasgow's growing reputation as a must-visit destination ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2014."
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