In 2019, again, Portugal received the Best European Tourist Destination for the third year running. Also included were prizes for several hotel categories such as Best Business, Design, Luxury, All-inclusive, and Romantic hotels. And talking about a tourist destination, Algarve couldn't be apart.
Algarve beach won a total of five different awards, including Best Europe Beach Destination, a prize it won five times before in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Local resort Quinta do Lago was considered the Best Beach Resort in Europe, while the Conrad Hotel won Best European Luxury Lifestyle Resort; Vila Vita Parc in Lagoa is once again the Best Luxury Hotel & Villas in Europe, and the Dunas Douradas Beach Club has been chosen Best European Villas Resort in 2019.
The city of Lisbon won the title of Europe’s Best City Break Destination and Best Cruise Port, while neighbouring Madrid was named “Europe’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination”.
Madeira also retained its title as Europe’s Leading Island Destination. Nicknamed the “island of eternal spring” due to its subtropical climate, the north Atlantic island of Madeira is popular year-round, with nearly 1.5 million tourists visiting annually.
The World Travel Awards is a yearly gala event founded in 1993 and run by World Media And Events Limited; considered the “tourism Oscars”. During the awards, an international jury of hospitality leaders, mainly from the World Travel and Tourism Council, decided on awards presented to hotels and other hospitality companies, on both global and regional levels in categories such as hotel, airline, and destination. It’s widely recognised as the ultimate hallmark of excellence, and their gala events are routinely attended by government and industry leaders.
Portugal’s President spoke after the event, saying that he “welcomes the election of Portugal as Best European Tourist Destination”, and believes it is “an opportunity to further enhance” other aspects of national tourism, such as nature conservation or social cohesion.
“The President of the Republic celebrates the election of Portugal as the best European tourist destination for the third consecutive year and for obtaining 39 awards in the World Travel Awards”, President de Sousa said in a message published on his official Presidency page.
“This good news for Portuguese and for the tourism sector should also be an opportunity to better value the environment and nature conservation, social cohesion and land use, culture and heritage and all values of authenticity of the national identity”, he added.
The Algarve is naturally the tourist region of excellence in Portugal and the most sought after for its beaches and hotels and rich gastronomy and also for the excellent golf courses that, throughout the year, are the destination of excellence for thousands of golfers from all over the world. the world.
Portugal and the Algarve have a great offer of rental cars through local Algarve car hire companies that over the years have been gaining the trust of an increasing number of customers who have been showing their preference for local companies car rental companies mainly based at Faro airport, including the group of companies Udrive is part of, now presenting its new website at https://www.udrive.cc with new rental cars, prices and an excellent delivery service at Faro airport or hotels or vacation accommodation anywhere in the Algarve.