Valletta has been voted as one of the top 10 European destinations by travellers who participated in an online competition organised by a Brussels-based consumers’ organisation.
Malta’s capital ranked seventh and, by placing in the top 10, won the right to be promoted by the European Consumers Choice, a voluntary organisation that works to give consumers a voice and reward companies.
The top 10 also win the right to use websites and official documents bearing the European Best Destinations 2013 logo.
“Valletta is the paradise! Nice weather, a country with a lot of history, the people are friendly, beautiful sceneries surrounded by a wonderful sea,” one tourist wrote.
Another wrote: “History, harbour and hidden treasures, all in one.”
Twenty countries participated in the competition.
The winner was Istanbul, Turkey, that got 12.4 per cent of votes. It was followed by Lisbon, in Portugal (12.2 per cent), Vienna, in Austria (9.5 per cent), Barcelona, in Spain (8.3 per cent), Amsterdam, in the Netherlands (7.2 per cent), Madrid, in Spain (6.5 per cent), Valletta (6.3 per cent), Nice, in France (6.2 per cent), Milan, in Italy (5.9 per cent) and Stockholm, in Sweden (5.3 per cent).
The winning country won a dedicated online guide and a photo reportage and the others will be highlighted throughout the year on the organisations’ social networks and recognised as being among the top 10 European destinations to be discovered in 2013.
www.europeanbestdestinations.org