For the first time, Portugal has been voted as the 'Best European Destination' in the latest round of Tourism Oscars at the World Travel Awards ceremony in St Petersburg, Russia.
Present at the boondoggle was Secretary of State for Tourism, Ana Mendes Godinho, who commented that receiving this unprecedented distinction "is an honour” and shows that "the whole country is an incredible asset and a 'must' to visit."
Godinho said the prize is the result of the "commitment of all to make Portugal a tourist destination of excellence, with a diversity of unique offers that extends throughout the territory" and that winning the prize was “a clear indication that we are on the right track, one that shows the diversity we have to offer, from north to south, from the coast to the interior."
Portugal received the most awards, 30% of all prizes, 13 more than in 2016.
Also at the ceremony, Turismo de Portugal, was elected the best official European tourism body for the fourth consecutive year. Luís Araújo, president of Turismo de Portugal, expressed the "enormous pride" he felt, as the tourist board is only ten years old.
"If Turismo de Portugal enjoys unparalleled reputation and reputation today, it is due to all those who daily strive to overcome challenges and to overcome records, bearing in mind a common goal: to lead tourism of the future," he waffled, adding that it is not by chance that the Portugal is already considered an international case study.
The port of Lisbon was voted "Best Cruise Port in Europe" for the quality of the infrastructure available to tourists who visit the city.
Last year, 522,000 cruise tourists landed in Lisbon, the preferred port of the government which has made sure that Portimão has been starved of the necessary investment to extend the quayside and dredge the entrance to accept larger cruise ships.
In May, the Minister of the Sea said that the new Lisbon cruise terminal in Santa Apolónia would be operating during the summer, after long delays. Ana Paula Vitorino welcomed the arrival of the first passengers at the new terminal - which was shut down the next day so work could be completed.
Wins for 2017 were:
River cruise company - Douro Azul
Tourist Board - Turismo de Portugal
Airline to Africa - TAP
Airline to Latin America - TAP
In-flight magazine - TAP
All-inclusive resort - Pestana Porto Santo Beach & Spa Resort
Beach resort - Hotel Quinta do Lago
Boutique Hotel - Vila Joya, Albufeira
Boutique Resort - Vila Joya, Albufeira
Design Hotel - Altis Belém Hotel & Spa, Lisbon
Landmark Hotel - Bairro Alto, Lisbon
Lifestyle Resort - Epic Sana Algarve Hotel, Albufeira
Luxury Business Hotel - Pestana Palace, Lisbon
Luxury Lifestyle Resort - Conrad Algarve, Quinta do Lago
Meetings and Conference Hotel - Ria Park Hotel, Almancil
Most Romantic Resort: Monte Santo, Lagoa
MICE Hotel - Epic Sana Hotel
The World Travel awards were created in 1993 and are awarded after votes are received from thousands of industry professionals worldwide and the general public.
Top Awards 2008 to 2017
Europe's Leading Beach Destination 2017
Europe's Leading Destination 2017
Europe's Leading Tourist Board 2017
Europe's Leading Beach Destination 2016
Europe's Leading Tourist Board 2016
Europe's Leading Beach Destination 2015
Europe's Leading Tourist Board 2015
Europe's Leading Tourist Board 2014
World's Leading Golf Destination 2013
Europe's Leading Beach Destination 2013
Europe's Leading Golf Destination 2013
Europe's Leading Beach Destination 2012
Europe's Leading Golf Destination 2012
Europe's Leading Tourist Board 2008
Comments
I had to look up the word boondoggle. This was the definition offered by Wikipedia:
A boondoggle is a project that is considered a waste of both time and money, yet is often continued due to extraneous policy or political motivations. Such a project is often used to relieve unemployment.
How apt.
Someone from Culturalgarve wrote the other day that the upturn in tourism in Portugal is due to extraneous influences, like wars in the Levant, and unstable states in North Africa. Nothing whatever to do with Portuguese performance, however much they pat themselves on the back.
In Portugal they seem to bring forward the opening dates, even though they must know by experience that actual completion dates will be further in the future.
The arrival of cruise ships may bring advantages to traders near the disembarkation point, and to the port authorities, but to nearly everyone else, they are a curse. Portimão should be very careful what it wishes for.