Fort Lauderdale, FL – November 8, 2024– Greece emerged as the star of the 2024 Travvy Awards, taking home multiple prestigious honors during the event held on November 7, 2024, at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center. Often described as the "Oscars of the travel industry," the Travvy Awards recognize excellence based on votes from travel advisors and industry insiders.
Greece rolled away with four gold statuettes and accolades for being the Best Destination in the Mediterranean, Best Destination in Europe, Best Cruise Destination in Europe, and having the Best Tourism Board for its Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO). These awards highlight not just Greece’s breathtaking landscapes and rich history, but also its thriving tourism industry driven by dedicated professionals.
The Travvy Awards have celebrated excellence for ten years now, honoring top-tier suppliers across various sectors, including hotels, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, and more. The awards’ process—entirely reliant on votes from travel advisors—provides genuine insight on what destinations and companies are making waves and winning hearts.
Travel advisors praised Greece for its unique charm and allure. The blend of ancient history, stunning islands, vibrant culture, and gastronomic delights clearly appeals to international visitors. The awards also credit the GNTO for its stellar efforts to attract tourists from across the globe, which has become even more important as the tourism sector strives post-pandemic.
Yet, as Greece celebrates these achievements, other regions within the tourism sector have been faced with serious concerns. A stark tale of financial struggle emerges from Scotland as its tourism companies face alarming difficulties, sparked by diminishing government support.
According to recent reports, Scottish tourism is facing "a devastating, gaping hole" in funding, putting numerous renowned tourist hotspots at risk of closure. Figures suggest 43% of Scotland’s Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) are on the verge of bankruptcy, with the number reaching 67% for rural and island regions.
Skye, revered as Scotland's second-most popular visitor destination after Edinburgh, is projected to lose its DMO by the end of 2024. A DMO plays the integral role of marketing and managing tourism within its locality; when they falter, the entire tourism structure feels the repercussions.
Mark Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, expressed his worries: “There is often the misconception tourism just happens, when, in fact, our DMOs work hard behind the scenes to market and manage their visitor destinations, ensuring tourism acts as a force for good. The loss of these organizations would leave significant voids within our tourism ecosystem, damaging Scotland’s aspirations and initiatives aimed at bolstering its tourism sector.”
The Scottish government previously provided aid to DMOs through funding from the Highlands and Islands Enterprise, particularly during the pandemic period. Now, as these funds dwindle, industry leaders like Crothall are calling for immediate action from the government to safeguard the future of the tourism businesses.
“More than ever, we need our DMOs to be at the heart of ensuring tourism occurs sustainably. We urge the Scottish Government and its agencies to intervene to protect the many DMOs facing closure,” he said.
Highlighting the increasing tourist numbers, the first half of 2024 has shown significant international visitation, increasing by 46% compared to the same period of 2019. Nevertheless, the financial pressures have caused much distress among Scotland's DMOs.
For example, SkyeConnect, which serves as the DMO for Skye and Raasay, has reportedly depleted most of its reserves and expects to last only until the year's end if current funding issues persist. Chief executive Sarah Maclean of Outer Hebrides Tourism revealed dire predictions for the company’s future, stating they may only maintain operations with reduced staffing levels, continuing to rely on subscriptions from nearly 500 local businesses for survival.
"We’ve got just about two more years before we run out of options if this continues," Maclean said. The potential closure of such organizations would lead to what she described as “a seismic impact” on tourism activities within the Outer Hebrides area. “No public or private agency could fill the void if we’re unable to continue,” she remarked.
The Scottish government has acknowledged the challenges facing many DMOs and is encouraging affected organizations to utilize the support provided by various economic development agencies. How fruitful these efforts will be remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Greece continues its ascent within the travel industry, and industry professionals look forward to seeing how both nations adapt and respond to their tourism challenges.
From accolades received to serious funding issues, the tourism industry is at the forefront of many discussions globally, pointing toward the shared significance of effective management and support for sustainability and growth.
