The Gozo Tourism Association has congratulated the Nadur local council for winning the European Destinations of Excellence Award as the best emerging rural destination.

The award formed part of a pilot project co-founded by the European Commission and was given to 10 European towns and regions.

The Gozitan village was selected on the basis of its authentic and sustainable rural area and because of the effective promotional tools it used over the past three years to market its attributes. The association expressed its belief that such recognition would not only enhance the locality's tourism product but would also be beneficial towards the promotion of Gozo as a tourist destination.

"This initiative should serve as an example to other localities as well as the private enterprise, which together with the central Administration should pursue the emerging quality of rural tourism in Gozo," the association said.