Athens was named “World’s Leading Cultural City Destination” during the Grand Final Gala Ceremony of the World Travel Awards (WTA) 2024 which took place in Madeira, Portugal on Nov. 24.
Athens was awarded for its rich cultural heritage and the unique experiences it offers millions of travelers who visit the Greek capital each year.
The Greek capital went up against 14 other cities for the 2024 award, including Edinburgh, London, New York, Paris, Rome, Dubrovnik, Venice, Rio de Janeiro, Beijing, Kyoto, Hoi An (Vietnam), Barranquilla (Colombia), Quito (Ecuador), and Santiago de Cali (Colombia).
The winners are determined through a voting process by travel and tourism professionals and the public.
“We are very proud of this award, which demonstrates that Athens is a powerful global brand in culture,” said Athens Mayor Haris Doukas commenting on the news. The mayor went on to add that the municipality will continue to invest in strengthening culture through important actions and events “that bring residents and visitors into contact with the rich cultural past and present of Athens”.
Accepting the award in Portugal was Ioannis Georgizas, CEO of the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (ADDMA). “This international distinction is a result of systematic work towards the city’s extroversion. “Through the ADDMA, we implement actions aimed at highlighting the competitive advantages of Athens on international tourism markets. Our goal is to attract high-level tourism in order to strengthen the local economy,” he said.
Established in 1993, the WTA acknowledge outstanding achievements and exceptional service in travel, tourism, and hospitality encouraging innovation and excellence among industry players. Categories include airlines and airports, hotels and resorts, travel agencies and tour operators, tourism boards and destinations (e.g. leading tourist attraction, leading cultural destination), cruise lines and car rental and transportation providers.
Latest News
Holiday Shop Hours in Athens, Piraeus, and Thessaloniki
Here’s a look at the shop hours in Greece for Christmas and New Year’s which go into effect in Athens and Piraeus on Dec.12
Deutsche Bank “Bullish” on Greek Banking Sector
The German bank highlights Greek banks are in the position to manage a possible cut in interest rates by the European Central Bank
Merkel Memoirs Recount Greek Bailout Era; Dealings With Tsipras
Excerpts recall tense period before July 2015 referendum; Papandreou's plea for more time - only a fleeting mention of Samaras; Merkel 's anticipation of meeting Tsipras
Athens 5th in Europe in Demand for Airbnb for Christmas
The findings showed the Greek capital recording a 31% rise in demand on a year-on-year basis for short-term bookings
Price of Olive Oil Produced in Spain Expected to Fall by December
Predictions estimate that there will be a big drop in the price of olive oil produced in Spain, not only at the producer but also on the shelf
Greece-Israel to Sign Agreement on Great Sea Interconnector
The agreement is expected to be signed by Greece's and Israel's ministers of energy during a meeting in Athens on Tuesday, according to unconfirmed media reports. The focus will be on broad energy collaborations, including the Great Sea Interconnector project.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Athens on Tuesday
This will be Secretary General Mark Rutte's first trip official visit to Athens in his current role at NATO, and he is scheduled to meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Prominent Greek Publisher Antonis Lymberis Passed Away at 71
Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the Greek media landscape, Lymberis reshaped the country’s publishing sector with his inventive approach to the press and mass media
Greek Retailers Extend Hours for Black Friday Weekend
The President of the Athens Commercial Association encourages consumers shopping during Black Friday and Cyber Monday (Dec. 2) to support Greek small and medium-sized businesses.
PM Mitsotakis Highlights Balanced Budget in Weekly Social Media Review
The prime minister highlights the budget's fiscal responsibility, as it is nearly balanced.