Wanderlust announces winners of 21st Annual Travel Awards

On Tuesday 8 November, we revealed the destinations you most desire at our spectacular awards ceremony hosted by Simon Reeve...

3 mins

Throughout the year, we have been asking readers to vote for their most desirable destinations around the world for the Wanderlust Travel Awards 2022.

We received tens of thousands of your votes, and on Tuesday 8 November, we finally revealed the places that came out on top.

Hundreds of travel industry representatives attended the Wanderlust Travel Awards ceremony held at the Tower of London. Guests were invited on an exclusive tour of the Tower's Crown Jewels and entertained by Fijian warriors, before finding out the results.

Legendary TV presenter and Wanderlust reader favourite Simon Reeve hosted the evening, announcing the top ten of each category, which included ‘Most Desirable’ destinations in Europe and the Rest of World. 

Tower of London illuminated for the ceremony

Tower of London illuminated for the ceremony

Costa Rica won Gold for Most Desirable Country (Rest of World)

Costa Rica won Gold for Most Desirable Country (Rest of World)

Simon Calder presented an award for Sustainable Accomodation

Simon Calder presented an award for Sustainable Accomodation

Before the guests arrived

Before the guests arrived

Ireland won Most Desirable Island in Europe

Ireland won Most Desirable Island in Europe

The results

Readers voted Costa Rica as their Most Desirable Country (Rest of World) while Greece took home the top prize for Most Desirable Country (Europe)

The Most Desirable City (Europe) went to Dubrovnik whereas Most Desirable City (Rest of World) was given to New Orleans.

Regions were also awarded, with Normandy (Europe) and Florida (Rest of World) both taking Gold.

And for the first time in Wanderlust Travel Award history, we recognised the Most Desirable Islands, with Ireland (Europe) and Philippines’ Palawan (Rest of World) coming out on top.

 

New Orleans won Most Desirable City (Rest of World)

New Orleans won Most Desirable City (Rest of World)

The Wanderlust team wrapping up the evening

The Wanderlust team wrapping up the evening

The Wanderlust team

The Wanderlust team

As our readers know, Wanderlust is passionate about supporting destinations that considered off the beaten path, so we also awarded the Most Desirable Emerging Destination. Central America’s Belize and Saudi Arabia missed out on the top spot. The Gold award went to Georgia.

Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do, so three judged awards were given to Tourist Boards, Tour Operators and Accommodation with some of the best sustainability initiatives in the industry right now. A Special Achievement Award acknowledged the Trans Bhutan Trail for its remarkable efforts to protect and preserve the country's environment, local communities and cultural heritage through tourism.

Other categories were also awarded during the night, including Favourite Airline, Favourite Tour Operators (General and Specialist) and Favourite Travel Media Influencer.

To discover the top ten from each category, read the full results article here.

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