Events, Tourism, Organisations & Operators,

MADEIRA IS, FOR THE 10TH TIME, THE BEST ISLAND DESTINATION IN EUROPE. PORTO SANTO IS THE BEST BEACH DESTINATION AND THE MADEIRA PROMOTION ASSOCIATION THE BEST TOURISM ENTITY.Funchal will host two international World Travel Awards galas in November this year.
The Region obtained triple distinction at the 31st European Gala of the World Travel Awards taking place tonight at The Ritz Cartlon, in Berlin, Germany.
Madeira was considered for the 10th time as the best island destination in Europe, Porto Santo was distinguished as having the best beach and the Madeira Promotion Association was classified as the best Tourism entity.
The Region took the award from the other 12 islands that were also in the vote. In the race with Madeira which has now won the award were the Azores, the Canary Islands, Ibiza, Mallorca (Spain) Crete, Cyclades (Greece), Sardinia, Sicily (Italy), Malta, Cyprus, Guernsey and Jersey (United Kingdom).
The region had already won the award for Best Island Destination in Europe in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023. On December 1, 2023, Madeira received the award for Best Island Destination of the World, in the world edition of the WTA, which happened for the ninth time.ADVERTISEMENTFor the first time in these awards, Porto Santo won in the category of ‘Best Beach Destination in Europe’, surpassing the Algarve and also Cannes (France), Corfu and Costa Navarino (Greece), Mallorca and Marbella (Spain) and Sardinia (Italy).
Also awarded was the Madeira Promotion Association as “Best Tourism Entity in Europe”, in an award that competed with 13 other nominees such as Tourism of France, Tourism of Austria, Tourism of Croatia, Tourism of Ireland, Tourism of Germany, Greek Tourism, the Spanish Tourism Institute, Italian Tourism, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Slovenian Tourism, Portuguese Tourism and Visit England.
At the ceremony that took place this evening in Berlin, it was also announced that Madeira will host two international World Travel Awards galas next November. This is the World Golf Awards gala, scheduled for November 22nd, and the World Travel Awards global gala, which will take place on November 24th. Both will take place at the Savoy Palace. 
The ‘World Travel Awards’ were created in 1993 and are awarded annually to recognise, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. The World Travel Awards are considered the “Oscars” of Tourism and the most prestigious prizes awarded in the sector.
Source: https://www.madeiraislandnews.com/

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Athens Crowned Europe’s Top City-Break Destination at World Travel Awards 2024

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Athens has clinched a prestigious title in the tourism realm, emerging as Europe’s Leading City-break Destination at the World Travel Awards 2024.The announcement came during a glittering ceremony held in Berlin on Wednesday, coinciding with ITB Berlin, a major tourism exhibition. Athens, represented by its special pavilion at the EOT Pavilion, took centre stage at the event.
The honour was accepted by Ioannis Georgizas, Managing Director of the Development and Tourism Promotion Company of the Municipality of Athens (EATA), who expressed pride in the achievement. “We are thrilled to receive this important recognition, which puts our city among the best city-break destinations in Europe,” Georgizas remarked. “Athens offers a vibrant and inviting atmosphere, with new attractions for short getaways. It’s not just about our rich cultural heritage and sunny days; it’s also about our museums, modern cultural venues, fine dining, and authentic experiences in our neighbourhoods. At EATA, we’re committed to enhancing quality, sustainable tourism while ensuring Athenians’ quality of life.”
The accolade crowns Athens’ decade-long efforts, led by This is Athens, a project of the Municipality of Athens, to position the city as a competitive year-round city-break destination. In 2023, Athens welcomed over 7 million international visitors, setting a new record.Athens was also nominated in five other categories at the World Travel Awards, including Top Cultural Destination, Top Meeting and Conference Destination, Top Cruise Destination, Top Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Top Sight for the Acropolis.
This isn’t the first time Athens has been recognised by the prestigious awards. In 2018, the Greek capital bagged the same title, beating out renowned cities like Amsterdam, Venice, and Paris. Over the past decade, Athens has earned several accolades at the World Travel Awards, including leading Cultural Destination worldwide in 2022 and 2023, and best Convention and Visitors Bureau in Europe for 2018 and 2022. The iconic Acropolis has also been celebrated as a top Tourist Attraction in 2014 and 2018.
Source: https://greekcitytimes.com/ADVERTISEMENT

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Jamaica has been named Global Destination of the Year at the renowned travel trade show, ITB in Berlin. The award was presented yesterday by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA). The PATWA is a nonprofit international media organization of travel writers founded in 1999 and the awards seek to recognize organizations, destinations/brands and individuals achieving the highest standards in their field.In accepting the award on behalf of the destination, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett said, “Jamaica is known for its food, music and indeed love so we are humbled to be recognized for these experiential offerings to our visitors that provide meaningful memories.”
The PATWA awards are held during ITB and are among the most coveted recognitions where nominees are evaluated on various standards with an extensive internal evaluation for each category.
The Minister of Tourism is participating in the 2024 staging of ITB Berlin, the world’s largest travel tradeshow. With over 20 thousand participants expected for this year, ITB Berlin is viewed as a critical platform for the international tourism industry, fostering networking and facilitating knowledge exchange.
“PATWA remains one of the highest honours you can receive in tourism and travel and Jamaica continues to punch above its weight to excel in its products and services. It is truly the perfect backdrop for all things romance – engagements, weddings, honeymoons – you name it,” added Minister Bartlett.
Jamaica has received several awards based on its authentic and unique tourism offerings. Last year, the island was named ‘Caribbean’s Best Culinary Destination’ at the World Culinary Awards. In the same year, Jamaica won 33 World Travel Awards, chief among them was being named the ‘Caribbean’s Leading Destination.’ADVERTISEMENTThis award also comes on the heels of phenomenal arrivals and earnings for the island last year. The destination welcomed over 4 million international visitors and earned US4.2 billion.

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Travel from Germany to the United States of America has returned to pre-pandemic levels. Speaking at ITB Berlin, on Wednesday the US ambassador to Germany, Amy Gutmann, stated that the two million mark has again been exceeded, and is now within 85 per cent of the 2019 figure.
Initial booking results for this year reveal that it will approach 100 per cent in 2024, Gutmann added. The aim is to achieve a total of 2.59 million tourists from Germany by 2028. In tourism to the United States itself sustainability has been assigned the utmost priority. One example that the ambassador gave was of Springville in Utah, where stargazing has been included in the list of tourism activities. Throughout the country the state of Utah is renowned for its dark skies, which remain largely “unpolluted” by lighting produced by human activities, which is further enhanced by the natural and very dry air.
A Democratic supporter and political scientist, Gutmann emphasizes that the government of the United States actively supports tourism promotion, because this provides an excellent basis for growth and development and can help to reduce the division of the world resulting from different political systems.
The presentations at ITB Berlin have clearly shown that the efforts being made by many US cities, including those far from the major conurbations on the west and east coasts, are using new and unique features in an effort to attract vacationers. As the second largest metropolis on the east coast, Philadelphia describes itself as the “World Capital of Murals”. Attempts to replace illegal graffiti by more artistic paintings, with the active support of the city authorities, has resulted in the creation of over 4,000 examples of such work. House owners with walls suitable for painting can advertise for artists. “There is a long list of such owners”, according to Dayana Gschechowiak from the marketing agency WTS which has been commissioned by the city for this purpose.
St. Louis is not only promoting its Gateway Arch, a world heritage site, but also its location on Route 66 and the authentic American lifestyle, as represented by both the National Blues and National Automobile Museums.ADVERTISEMENT

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Israel’s tourism minister promotes travel to and in Israel

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Israel’s Tourism Minister Haim Katz has appealed for travellers to visit Israel again. Travellers were safe in the country, he said in front of the press on Tuesday at ITB Berlin. He would be urging the German government to drop the travel warnings for Israel issued by the German Foreign Office.
As proof of the country’s safety, the minister said that the 150,000 residents of the area bordering the Gaza Strip, which had been evacuated after the terrorist attacks by Hamas on 7 October 2023, had been accommodated in hotels for tourists. “That is not something we would have done if the hotels had not been safe.” In the meantime around 80 per cent of the residents had been able to return home.
Germany, Austria and Switzerland are among the leading countries for tourism to Israel. According to Ksenia Kobiakov, director of Israel’s government office for tourism, 402,000 visited in 2019. In 2022, after the pandemic, the figure was 207,500, and by 7 October 2023 it was 213,302. After that, tourism came to an abrupt halt. All in all, 13,000 tourists arrived in Israel daily before the pandemic. On 8 October 2023 they still numbered 23. In the meantime the numbers fluctuated at around 2,700 to 3,400, she said. “For the time being we are not counting on 13,000, but perhaps nine to ten thousand visitors“, was Kobiakov’s hope.

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Albania is the Host Country of ITB 2025

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Albania has been announced as the Official Host Country of ITB Berlin 2025. On Wednesday, 6 March 2024, Albania’s Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro and Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin, signed a partnership agreement on the Albanian stand in Hall 1.1. Afterwards, the minister introduced the CEO to various regions and local specialities.
Whenever Mirela Kumbaro talks about her home country Albania, she finds it hard not to enthuse about it. “Albania is a hidden gem in the Mediterranean with a good tourism infrastructure“, she commented during the signing ceremony. “People are in search of new destinations and experiences. Albania doesn’t fit any of the usual stereotypes, but instead is a small and sort of mystical country where travellers can gain new experiences.“
According to Mirela Kumbaro, there is more to visit than just the sea and mountains, which together with the rivers and forests cover three-quarters of the country. It is the “Albanian spirit“ and the hospitality of the locals that make Albania so attractive. That has always been firmly part of Albanian culture, and not something just invented for the modern tourism age. “In Albania the house belongs to the guest and God“, said Mirela Kumbaro, quoting a common saying in her country. In Albania, visitors could expect to be treated like royalty, she added.
Furthermore, distances between tourist attractions in Albania are short. It takes only a few hours to reach the mountains from the coast. The Vjosa is part of Europe’s recently declared Wild River National Park. In the north, the Albanian Alps await with many hiking trails and pristine mountain villages, where visitors can find accommodation.
The latest statistics are proof that tourism in Albania is taking off. Last year, 10.1 million people visited Albania from abroad. According to UN Tourism (UNWTO), during the first six months of 2023 tourism in Albania experienced the third-highest growth worldwide and the highest in Europe. One million tourists have already visited Albania from abroad this year, 50 per cent more than over the same period last year.ADVERTISEMENT

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Ensuring Oman remains an authentic destination

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The Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) has bestowed the prestigious title of Global Tourism Icon upon Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the tourism industry.This esteemed accolade, that was presented yesterday (March 6), comes as a testament to Minister Bartlett’s relentless dedication to promoting sustainable tourism practices, fostering cultural exchange, and advancing the tourism sector on a global scale. He has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at enhancing visitor experiences, building resilience and creating economic opportunities for local communities through tourism.
Upon receiving the title of Global Tourism Icon, the Minister expressed gratitude to the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association for this esteemed recognition. He emphasized the importance of collective action in advancing the tourism industry, underscoring the role of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity in shaping the future of travel.
“It has been my life’s mission to ensure that the tourism sector in Jamaica flourishes in terms of arrivals, earnings, economic growth and resilience. I am pleased that through public-private sector partnerships we have not only weathered the most devastating period in global tourism history, but have elevated Jamaica as a premier travel destination and also set a benchmark for excellence in the global tourism landscape,” said Minister Bartlett.The Pacific Area Travel Writers Association’s decision to honour Minister Bartlett as a Global Tourism Icon reaffirms his status as a visionary leader and trailblazer in the field of tourism. His unwavering commitment to excellence and sustainability serves as an inspiration to industry professionals and travellers alike.
Minister Bartlett is leading a delegation at ITB Berlin, the world’s largest travel trade show. With over 20 thousand participants expected this year, ITB Berlin is viewed as an important platform for the international tourism industry, facilitating knowledge and networking.

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Europe winners revealed at World Travel Awards 2024 in Berlin

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Lisbon was voted Europe’s Best MICE Destination in 2023 for the first time at the 4th edition of the World MICE Awards, which took place last night in Berlin, Germany.The same event also saw the 31st European edition of the World Travel Awards, in which Lisbon was also voted Europe’s Best Urban Destination in 2024.
Last year and to date, 2251 events have been registered in Lisbon, attracting more than 592,178 participants from all over the world. The privileged location, the modern and versatile infrastructures, as well as the excellent accessibility, combined with the transversality of cultural experiences, have made Lisbon an unavoidable choice in Europe for organising events. Since 2019, Lisbon has been ranked 2nd in the ICCA World Ranking, having previously been consecutively in the Top Ten.

The MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) segment plays a significant role in Lisbon’s economy, making a significant contribution to tourism and the city’s economic development, particularly in terms of revenue generation and job creation. It’s worth remembering that in 2022 and 2023, the Lisbon Tourism Association (ATL) made over 1 million euros available for attracting and supporting congresses, corporate events and association events, through the Lisbon Tourism Development Fund (financed with revenue generated by the tourist tax) and ATL’s participation in the national programme, Portugal Events, with 25% of the overall funding.
ADVERTISEMENTThe prospects for holding international events in Lisbon are promising. “We continue to work to attract the attention of international event organisers and participants.  Lisbon stands out not only for its unique DNA, but also for the professionalism of its companies, its excellent hotels, accessibility, organisational capacity, cultural offer and the widest range of possible experiences. Lisbon continues to be a pioneer in offering unique and unrepeatable experiences,” says Paula Oliveira, Executive Director of the Lisbon Tourism Association.

As an urban destination, Lisbon stands out for its historical heritage, vibrant culture, welcoming atmosphere, diverse cuisine and authentic visitor experience, with its historic districts, colourful tiles, panoramic viewpoints, urban art, modernity and cultural attractions, from museums and art galleries to internationally renowned concerts and festivals.

The World MICE Awards, considered the “sister” event of the World Travel Awards, celebrate excellence in the MICE industry and annually reward destinations, airlines, hotels, organisers and infrastructures related to this sector.

The World Travel Awards, internationally acclaimed as the “Oscars of Tourism”, annually honour the excellence achieved by tourist destinations, hotel companies, airlines and other entities related to the tourism industry. These awards represent a seal of quality and a stamp of prestige for those who excel in providing the best that the tourism industry has to offer on a global level.

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