The World Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final Gala, considered the Oscars of tourism, took place this month in Dubai and gave Portugal ten extraordinary recognitions. The most important is certainly the city of Braga (north of the country) becoming the World’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination. Also, the Azores islands are now the World’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination, and the World’s Leading Golf & Villa Resort is the Dunas Douradas Beach Club in Almancil, Algarve. Check the full list here.
In September, the European edition of the WTA, in Georgia, had already honoured Portugal as Europe’s Leading Destination. Porto was voted Leading City Break Destination, and the elected Leading City Destination was Lisbon. Also in Europe, the Algarve is the Leading Beach Destination and the Madeira archipelago the Leading Island Destination (full list here).
The WTA also organises the World Golf Awards, which voted Portugal the World’s Best Golf Destination. The World Culinary Awards honoured the Vila Joya, in the Algarve, as Europe’s Best Hotel Restaurant.
One of the most important distinctions of tourism is Travel+Leisure magazine’s World’s Best Awards, voted by readers from all over the planet. The results were announced in July and placed Lisbon and Porto on the list of 25 Favourite Cities in the World, and Madeira as one of the 15 Favourite Islands in Europe.
Not least, the World Tourism Organisation, a body of the United Nations, included Ericeira (west), Manteigas and Sortelha (centre), Madalena (north) and Vila de Frades (south) in its list of Best Tourism Villages, recognising them as destinations that stand out for their commitment to sustainability.
And while we wait for the Portugal Michelin Star Revelation Gala, to be held in February in the Algarve, let’s celebrate Nélson Freitas, winner of the San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy 2022-23 competition, which names the best chef in the world under the age of 30. Freitas’ creations can be savoured at the Fifty Seconds restaurant in Lisbon.
Yes, it really has been an impressive year for Portugal – but, above all, thanks to you.
