ATHENS — The Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourist Organisation (GNTO) were together awarded as the World's Leading Tourist Board at the World Travel Awards (WTA) 2020.

This year, due to the health restrictions, the WTA was held online on Friday, November 25, and was broadcast worldwide from the Russian capital, Moscow.

Receiving the award, Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis said: "With great joy and pride we accept on behalf of our country the highest distinction of the WTA awards, an award that our country wins for the first time. Greece has fully earned the title of the World's Leading Tourist Board. The international community recognises our hard work and methodical efforts, the care for health and safety that we managed to offer to millions of tourists who were hosted this summer in Greece, the excellent work done by the private sector and employees and all those involved in the tourism process. The WTA award is a great distinction, which reflects the successful opening of Greece to tourism during the pandemic. It shows that our country, with prudence, seriousness and a spirit of solidarity, faced the adventure of COVID-19 – a phenomenon considered the biggest challenge facing world tourism for the last 20 years, at least – in the most effective way."

Every year since 1993, the WTA has handed out awards to organisations which excel in the tourism industry. Achieving one the highest distinctions in this year's competition – under especially challenging circumstances – highlights that Greece is a universal reference point for the tourism industry.