For the third year running, Ireland has been awarded Top Travel Destination in the whole of Europe.
The Group Travel Awards ceremony, which took place in London on Friday, June 7, saw Tourism Ireland receive the crown, ahead of Germany.
The glamorous event was held at the Park Plaza Riverside Hotel and welcomed representatives from other popular holiday spots like Switzerland, Cyprus, Belgium and the Czech Republic.
The votes are in
The results were reached from a Travel Awards poll taken by readers of Group Travel Organiser (GTO) magazine.
GTO is the UK’s leading travel magazine for group travel organisers and has been offering information on organized travel in Great Britain and Ireland on a global level for nearly 30 years.
This is the third year in a row GTO readers have voted Ireland as the best travel destination in Europe and it is not difficult to see why.
Tourism Ireland’s Head of Great Britain, Julie Wakley, was thrilled with the result and spoke at the Travel Awards ceremony to thank all the people who voted for Ireland.
She said, “We are delighted that Ireland has been voted ‘Best European Destination’ once again at the Group Travel Awards.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the group travel who voted for us.”
“Travellers nowadays have tremendous choice, which makes it more important than ever for us to ensure the island of Ireland stands out from other destinations”, she added.
“So this award is good news indeed, reminding group organisers around Britain that Ireland is the ideal choice.”
Best attraction
Not only did Ireland get crowned Best European Travel Destination, but the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin came second in the Best European Attraction category.
The brewery experience is by far Dublin’s number one tourist hotspot where you can learn about each careful step taken to create the perfect pint of Ireland’s favourite beer.
Disneyland Paris bagged first place as Europe’s Top Attraction with Titanic Belfast coming in at a respectable sixth.
Other awards mentioned were Best Airline, voted as Jet2.com, Best Rail Operator voted as Eurostar and Kent crowned Best UK Destination.
Prime holiday spot
Ireland’s tourism industry employs over 300,000 people making it vital to the economy.
It is the country’s largest indigenous industry with signs of expansion every year.
Tourism Ireland promotes the Emerald Isle as a prime travel destination to overseas travellers while Failte Ireland is the official corporate tourism trade website.
Not to mention leading independent travel website Ireland Before You Die bringing you a wealth of information on everything Ireland has to offer.
So with all this in mind, why not look at Ireland as your next holiday destination.
Readers have voted, Travel Awards have been crowned and advice is to hand but don’t just take our word for it.
Visit Ireland for yourself and you will soon discover what all the fuss is about.
From natural beauty, rugged landscapes, unspoilt beaches, clean air and mighty craic, you will be left in no doubt why Ireland has once again been crowned ‘Best in Europe’.
