Athens is the World’s Leading Cultural Destination for 2022

Monastiraki, Athens. Photo source: Municipality of Athens.

The city of Athens was awarded top honors as the World’s Leading Cultural Destination for 2022 at the World Travel Awards (WTA). held recently in Muscat, Oman.

WTA’s Grand Final Gala, which was the 29^th edition of the coveted travel industry event, saw Greek tourism stand out as one of the best worldwide with multiple wins.

Athens’ recognition, which halted Saint Petersburgh’s 6 consecutive wins strike, came after the city’s distinctions as Europe’s Top Cultural Destination and Europe’s Best Convention and Visitors Bureau at last month’s regional WTA event.

CEO of the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (ADDMA) Epameinondas Mousios with WTA CEO and Founder Graham Cooke. Photo source: WTA.

“Athens’ win encourages us to work even harder in order to strengthen its dynamics as a tourism destination, a role with multiple benefits for the city and its residents,” said Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyiannis on the WTA honor.

According to Bakoyiannis, Athens is developing into an international brand as a result of the municipality’s strategic plan and accompanying synergies that have reintroduced the city to foreign markets

“All municipal efforts to upgrade the city’s everyday life also serve as an investment in improving the experience of all future visitors,” the mayor added.

Athens, Greece. Photo source: Travel Trade Athens

Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (ADDMA) CEO Epameinondas Mousios represented the Municipality of Athens at the WTA Grand Final Gala event.

This was the first time that Athens won an award at a WTA Grand Final event. Other nominees in the World’s Leading Cultural Destination this year included New York, Beijing, London, Paris, Rome, Rio de Janeiro and Sydney.

“This proves that the municipality’s long-term strategy for the sustainable tourism development of our city, implemented through ADDMA, is bearing fruit,” Mousios said.