Athens crowned World's Leading Cultural City Destination at World Travel Awards 2024
The City of Athens has achieved a significant distinction in international tourism, winning the title of "World’s Leading Cultural City Destination 2024" at the prestigious World Travel Awards. The impressive award ceremony took place in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal on Sunday, November 24th.
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas stated, “We are very proud of this award, which proves that Athens is a strong global brand in the field of culture. A vibrant and welcoming city, Athens shares its rich cultural heritage with visitors, combined with its modern, upgraded image. The City of Athens continues to invest in strengthening culture through significant actions and events that connect residents and visitors with the rich cultural past and present of Athens.”
The award was accepted by Ioannis Georgizas, CEO of Develop Athens, the city’s growth agency which runs This is Athens. This is Athens handles the promotion of the Greek capital in international tourist markets. Mr. Georgizas stated, “This global recognition for Athens is the result of the systematic work we are doing to increase the city’s international profile. Through Develop Athens, we continue to implement actions that highlight Athens’ competitive advantages in the global tourism market. Our goal is to attract high-level tourism to boost the local economy.”
Athens stood out among 15 destinations from around the world for its rich cultural heritage and the unique experiences it offers year-round to millions of visitors. The 2024 nominees in the same category as Athens included 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).
About the World Travel Awards
The World Travel Awards have been held annually since 1993 and are considered one of the most important award institutions globally. Known as the “Oscars” of the travel industry, they recognize the best in every sector of tourism—official organizations, travel agencies, hotels, airlines, and more—through an open online voting process. Votes come mainly from travel and tourism professionals, as well as travelers themselves.
