The municipality of Santa Cruz da Graciosa has been awarded the Best Tourism Village 2024 prize by the World Tourism Organization (WTO).

“This award is recognition of our commitment to sustainability and the preservation of our natural and cultural heritage,” says the mayor of Santa Cruz da Graciosa, António Reis.

“We are honored to receive this distinction, I thank all the technicians who worked on the application, and I pledge to continue working to promote responsible and inclusive tourism,” he said in a press release.

The award recognizes the excellence of this destination, “valuing the environmental, cultural and heritage quality” of the island.

The award ceremony occurred during the 27th session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization, which was held on Friday in Cartagena de las Indias, Colombia.

The same press release states, “This seal, valid for three years, distinguishes the best rural destinations worldwide, promoting tourism’s transformative role through sustainability strategies aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

Santa Cruz da Graciosa was recognized among over 260 entries from 55 countries. This year’s winner was also the Portuguese village of Óbidos.

BestTourismVillage is a global initiative of the World Tourism Organization that recognizes rural villages that stand out in preserving cultures and traditions, celebrating diversity, promoting opportunities, and protecting biodiversity.

The UNWTO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, currently has 59 countries, 6 associate members and more than 500 affiliate members.

It is the largest international organization in the field of tourism and is a forum for debating policies aimed at this sector.

It defends the principles of responsible, sustainable, and accessible tourism for all.

in Diário Insular-José Lourenço, director

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