Għarb named European destination of excellence

Għarb was among 21 tourist destinations across Europe that were awarded the title of ‘2011 European Destination of Excellence in Tourism and Regeneration of Physical Sites’ at a gala awards ceremony in Brussels on September 27.

Għarb is a quiet village at the tip of Gozo, where young people still speak the local dialect and traditional dishes are served in the restaurants, keeping alive two fundamental Gozitan traditions.

Wied il-Mielaħ, or ‘salty valley’, a natural basin rich in flora and fauna which had fallen into disuse, has been successfully regenerated; the rubble walls surrounding the valley have been reconstructed and the natural vegetation reestablished.

Għarb is also home to a folklore museum, many quaint, historically significant churches and Ta’ Pinu Basilica.

EDEN – which stands for ‘European Destinations of Excellence’ – is a European Commission initiative promoting sustainable tourism development models across the EU.

The other 2011 EDEN destinations are: City of Gmünd/Carinthia (Austria); Marche-en-Famenne (Belgium); Pustara Višnjica(Croatia); Kalopanayiotis (Cyprus); Slovácko (Czech Republic); Lahemaa National Park Manors (Estonia); Roubaix (France); Municipality of Delphi (Greece); Mecsek (Hungary); Stykkishólmur Municipality (Iceland); The Great Western Greenway, Co Mayo (Ireland); Montevecchio, Municipality of Guspini (Italy); Ligatne Village (Latvia); Rokiškis Manor (Lithuania); Veenhuizen (Netherlands); Żyrardów (Poland); Faial Nature Park(Portugal); Idrija (Slovenia); Trasmiera Ecopark (Spain) and Hamamönü-Altındag Ankara (Turkey).