The TOURISE forum has announced the names of the tourist destinations that have qualified for the final stage of the TOURISE 2025 Awards after passing two stages of evaluation. These destinations have succeeded in redrawing the features of the future of global tourism and have proven their ability to offer rich and inspiring experiences that go beyond the traditional concept of travel.
The final nominations were based on recommendations from tourists who had these experiences and visited these destinations, along with evaluations by a select group of tourism sector experts and contributions from international institutions specializing in the sector, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
In the Best Arts and Culture Destination category, the Japanese city of Kyoto, distinguished by its gardens and a culture embodied in its traditional crafts, qualified, along with the French city of Paris, famous for its museums and thriving modern arts, and the American city of New York, which is home to world-class museums and pulses with the street art that characterizes its urban cultural scene.
In the Best Adventure Destination category, the Galápagos Islands, famous for their marine diversity and captivating wildlife, qualified, along with Ancash, distinguished by its glacial lakes and striking peaks, and Bwindi National Park, which gives tourists the opportunity to explore its dense forests and enjoy a unique experience in the home of gorillas.
In the Best Food and Culinary Arts Destination category, Tokyo qualified, famous for the diversity of its cuisine, which combines authenticity and precision in preparation, along with London, distinguished by its modern British cuisine and the variety of global flavors found throughout the city, and Hong Kong, which offers a complete culinary experience combining fine-dining restaurants and popular food stalls, all of them embodying the richness of the global culinary scene.
In the Best Shopping Destination category, Singapore qualified, distinguished by its malls, design districts and cultural markets that combine modernity and heritage in a city linking East and West, along with Paris, the fashion capital, home to fashion houses, specialty stores and second-hand markets, and London, which combines heritage and modernity.
In the Best Entertainment Destination category, Seoul qualified, representing a blend of innovation and culture, along with Tokyo, with its immersive shows and tourist attractions, and Mexico City, which combines festivals with authentic traditions.
Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of the TOURISE forum Ahmed Al-Khateeb explained that the qualification of these destinations for the final stage of the TOURISE Awards embodies the renewed spirit of innovation and the depth of hospitality that have become a key feature of the contemporary travel experience.
He added that these distinguished cities and regions do not merely attract visitors from around the world, but also inspire the imagination, foster cultural rapprochement and reshape the way we see the world around us.
He noted that Saudi Arabia continues to lead in building a sustainable and transformative tourism future by honoring destinations that set new standards of excellence and leave an indelible mark on every traveler's memory, adding that true exploration is capable of uniting peoples and inspiring them even after the journey ends.
The winning destinations will be announced on the first day of the TOURISE 2025 forum, to be held in Riyadh from November 11 to 13, 2025, in the presence of leaders and experts from the tourism, culture, investment and technology sectors. A high-level jury, which oversaw the previous evaluation stages, will select the winning destinations.
The awards jury includes a select group of international experts in the tourism, arts, fashion and culture sectors. The TOURISE Awards are a global initiative aimed at honoring tourist destinations that build cultural bridges between peoples and offer visitors exceptional experiences that remain etched in memory.
The awards cover five main categories: arts and culture, adventure, food and culinary arts, shopping, and entertainment, and the winner in each category gets the chance to compete for the grand prize for best overall destination.
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