Athens, Greece – The Greek capital has once again demonstrated its growing prominence in the global tourism sector, securing two significant accolades at the World Travel Awards 2025. This esteemed institution, widely recognized within the international tourism industry, honored Athens with the titles of World’s Leading Cultural City Destination and, for the first time ever, World’s Leading City Break Destination.
Awards Ceremony in Bahrain
The awards were formally presented at a special ceremony held last Saturday, December 6, in Manama, the capital of Bahrain. Representing Athens at the event was Ioannis Georgizas, CEO of the Development Agency of the City of Athens, accompanied by other agency officials.
Mayor’s Statement on the Distinctions
Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, commented on these important global distinctions, stating, “Athens consistently proves that it can claim and achieve top positions on the global tourism map. Culture, openness and sustainable development are at the core of our strategy for a city that is open, vibrant and human-centered. These distinctions reflect the collective effort of the Municipality, the Athens Development Agency and all stakeholders working daily to enhance Athens’ image and visitor experience internationally.”
Development Agency CEO Highlights Strategy
Ioannis Georgizas, CEO of the Athens Development Agency, who accepted the awards on behalf of the city, emphasized, “These awards confirm the strategy we are implementing at the Athens Development Agency through This is Athens and the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, promoting internationally the modern, creative and sustainable identity of the city. We continue steadily to develop partnerships, design targeted promotional actions and strengthen Athens’ presence in key international markets.”
Building on Previous Successes
These new global recognitions build upon two previous awards Athens received in October at the World Travel Awards 2025, where it was named Europe’s Leading Cultural City Destination and Europe’s Leading City Tourist Board. These consistent successes highlight the long-term strategy of the Municipality of Athens and the Athens Development Agency to position the city as a modern, competitive, and sustainable destination. The Agency, through its tourism brand ‘This is Athens’ and the Convention and Visitors Bureau, spearheads initiatives that showcase the Greek capital’s rich cultural identity, authenticity, and dynamism.
Key Initiatives for Tourism Promotion
Athens actively promotes its cultural and tourism offerings through major events such as the Athens City Festival, which features over 300 cultural activities every May across the city. Additionally, ‘This is Athens – Agora’, the city’s annual leading tourism forum, draws major companies and organizations from around the world, further strengthening Athens’ outward focus with sustainability as a guiding principle.
These two latest distinctions for 2025 are expected to significantly enhance the international footprint of the Greek capital, confirming its upward trajectory as a premier destination for culture, diverse experiences, and high-quality hospitality.
Funding and Future Outlook
The initiative that led to these achievements was implemented under the Action “Activities for the promotion, enhancement and marketing of tourism in the Municipality of Athens” / Sub-project 1, which is part of the “Attica 2021-2027” Program, OPS 6018475, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
