In a momentous win at the esteemed World Travel Award’s ceremony, the Liget Budapest Project, celebrating its decade-long journey, emerged victorious as Europe’s top tourism development this year. Benedek Gyorgyevics, CEO of Városliget Ltd., the driving force behind the project, shared the exciting news.
Termed the ‘Oscars of tourism,’ this accolade not only crowns the Liget Budapest Project as Europe’s most comprehensive cultural urban development but also positions it as the paramount tourism development globally. The project competed against the world’s most sought-after new tourist attractions, securing the top spot through both jury and public votes, surpassing contenders from Spain, Portugal, and Germany. The World Travel Awards, a pinnacle in the international travel, tourism, and hospitality industry, annually recognize the sector’s finest initiatives amid thousands of contenders.
Benedek Gyorgyevics expressed profound honour at the Liget Budapest Project being selected as Europe’s leading tourism development at one of the world’s foremost tourism competitions, the World Travel Awards. From its planning stages, the Liget renovation aimed to make the park a ‘must-visit’ attraction for those coming to Budapest. The increasing numbers of foreign visitors to attractions like the Hungarian House of Music, the Museum of Ethnography, and the Balloon Lookout indicate its place on the international tourism map. The long-term objective is to continuously introduce renewed cultural content and recreational experiences to the park, making it a destination worth visiting and revisiting.
Founded in 1993, the World Travel Awards aim to recognize and reward the finest initiatives and developments in all sectors of the international travel, tourism, and hospitality industry. The awards, now in their thirtieth year, have become one of the most important benchmarks for all areas related to tourism.
Gyorgyevics highlighted that in the first ten years of the Liget Budapest Project, century-old cultural institutions were revitalized, accompanied by the construction of some of the world’s most exciting contemporary buildings. These developments significantly elevated Hungary’s tourist appeal, and the new contemporary structures in Liget became internationally recognized landmarks.
The project’s success is evident in the more than two dozen prestigious international awards it has garnered since its inception.
The recent recognition from the World Travel Awards reaffirms that Budapest’s primary family experience park, including the Városligeti Nagyjátszótér (playground), the impressive Hungarian House of Music, and the Museum of Ethnography, holds a prominent place among the world’s best tourist destinations.
A unique aspect of the Liget project is that it harmoniously integrates century-old institutions with new ones, creating a dynamic system while surrounded by nature, providing an experience with recreational opportunities. Such a concept is unparalleled globally and draws attention at international urban development exhibitions and conferences. Since its inception, the Liget Budapest Project has attracted international professional attention, with its scale and complexity making it the largest cultural investment in Europe today.
The Hungarian House of Music won the ‘Best International Public Building’ award at the International Property Awards in 2019 and was chosen as the world’s best music-themed real estate development at the 2021 Music Cities Awards. In 2018, the new Museum of Ethnography was also recognized as the world’s best public building at the International Property Awards, receiving the World’s Best Architecture special award. In 2021, the National Museum Restoration and Storage Centre (OMRRK) won the Best Development of a Public Building in Europe award at the International Property Awards, making the Liget Budapest Project the most awarded development in the history of the awards.
The continuous success and recognition of the Liget Budapest Project highlight its significant contribution to Hungary’s cultural and tourist landscape, positioning it as a global leader in innovative urban development.
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