The Pearl of Adriatik, the Croatian city of Dubrovnik, received the award of Europe’s Leading Cruise Destination for 2023 by World Travel Awards, taking the lead over 11 competitors from the same category.
On Friday, September 29, in Batumi, Georgia, the World Travel Awards gave recognition to different airlines, destinations and attractions by honouring them with awards in the field of travel and tourism.
Dubrovnik, which is home to numerous movie scenes, including one of the most famous existing TV shows, Game of Thrones, won this award against 11 other competitors from Europe:
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Athens, Greece
- Bodrum, Türkiye
- Cannes, France
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Edinburgh and The Forth, Scotland
- Izmir, Türkiye
- Kuşadasi, Türkiye
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Oslo, Norway
- Venice, Italy
Dubrovnik is no stranger to this award since the city has been able to secure 14 nominations for Europe’s Leading Cruise Destination category, achieving a win for the same category also back in 2021.
Furthermore, this is the second award that Dubrovnik was honoured with during the night of the ceremony. The city also received an award in the Europe’s Leading Seaside Metropolitan Destination 2023 category.
These awards, accepted by the doctor of Dubrovnik Tourist Board, Miro Draskovic, are a testament to the city’s enduring charm, rich cultural heritage, and spectacular natural beauty. Dubrovnik continues to be an essential highlight on the European tourism map.
Previously, Dubrovnik has been nominated 27 times since 2007 in different categories, such as Europe’s Leading Sustainable Metropolitan Destination 2022, World’s Leading Cruise Destination 2022, and Europe’s Leading Destination 2016.
The tourist season in Dubrovnik is currently thriving. According to the latest data reported by The Dubrovnik Times, an online news publication specialising in Dubrovnik-related news and events, during the final week of September 2023, the city welcomed an impressive 15,000 guests.
According to Statista, a global data and business intelligence platform, there were approximately 400 thousand cruise passengers in 2022, compared to 111.5 thousand in 2021. However, the cruise in Dubrovnik reached its highest number of passengers in 2013, with a total of 1.1 million passengers.
Dubrovnik’s popularity as a tourist destination is clearly on the rise, and these recent awards from the World Travel Awards further highlight the city’s appeal to travellers from around the world.
In addition to its recent award, Dubrovnik has also been recognised as one of the friendliest cities in Europe this year. According to SchengenVisaInfo.com, the city has secured the 12th position in the Readers’ Choice Awards for the friendliest cities in Europe. This further solidifies Dubrovnik’s reputation as not only a top travel destination but also a place known for its warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Last year, Lisbon, Portugal, held the honour of being Europe’s Leading Destination. This year, Dubrovnik has taken the spotlight, demonstrating the dynamic nature of Europe’s top travel destinations.
