Four Portuguese towns and villages, Ericeira, Madalena, Manteigas and Sortelha, have been awarded the "Best Tourism Village 2023" prize by the World Tourism Organisation. The information was released this Thursday, 19 October, by the Ministry of Economy and the Sea.
The announcement was made during the General Assembly and Executive Board Meeting of the World Tourism Organisation in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, which awarded other locations.
In a statement, the government said that the label, which will be in force for three years, distinguishes the best rural destinations worldwide, promoting the transformative role of tourism in these territories through sustainability strategies aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
"This distinction, awarded by one of the most important tourist organisations in the world, praises the excellence of national tourism, the country's interior and its distinguishing tourist offers," emphasised the Secretary of State for Tourism, Trade and Services, Nuno Fazenda in a statement sent to the Lusa news agency.
For the minister, these awards are "an international recognition of the sustainability and authenticity of Portuguese tourism, which we must continue to ensure and enhance".
Portugal's 4 star towns and villages
Ericeira is in the municipality of Mafra, in the district of Lisbon, Madalena in the municipality of Madalena, Pico Island, in the Azores archipelago, Manteigas in the district of Guarda and the Historical Village of Sortelha in the municipality of Sabugal, in the district of Guarda.
- Find holiday rentals in Ericeira
- Find holday rentals in Madalena
- Find holiday rentals in Manteigas
- Find holiday rentals in Sortelha
For the president of the Aldeias Históricas de Portugal tourism development association, Carlos Ascensão, the recognition "once again demonstrates the merit of the work carried out by Aldeias Históricas".
"We are delighted to have received this award, which recognises our association's strategy of making this territory genuinely sustainable and innovative, based on the concept of green, inclusive and intelligent growth to boost integrated local development and become an innovation leader in the context of low-density territories," added Carlos Ascensão in a statement sent to the Lusa news agency.
The World Tourism Organisation highlighted the winners as places "genuinely committed to the promotion and preservation of their cultural and historical legacy, and promoters of sustainable tourism", says the Historical Villages.
Sortelha is the third Historic Village in Portugal to be awarded the "Best Tourist Village" label, after Castelo Rodrigo, in the municipality of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, won in 2021, and Castelo Novo, in the municipality of Fundão, won the same award in 2022. Cumeada, in the municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz, Évora district, was also honoured in 2021.