Ecuador wins best vacation spot at World Travel Awards

Ecuador's capital Quito has been awarded the title of South America’s leading tourist destination picking 14 prizes at the World Travel Awards, popularly known as the Oscars of Tourism.

Quito has won the best vacation spot awards three years in a row.

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The awards ceremony held in Bogota, Colombia where Ecuador also won the Leading Green Destination and Leading Destination of the region for its capital, Quito.

The award ceremony is aimed at recognising tourist destinations of high quality in terms of trips, tourism and global hospitality, Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism said.

"These international awards confirm once again that Ecuador continues to captivate the world with its spectacular destinations and tourism products, which have earned it worldwide recognition as a location with great potential to offer its visitors," said Ecuadorean Minister of Tourism Sandra Naranjo.

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Founder and president of the World Travel Award, Graham Cooke said Ecuador has made huge strides in developing its tourism industry in recent years.

"Now it is a tourist force to be reckoned with in South America,” said Cooke.

“The results of this year's awards is a reflection of the country's success in positioning itself not only as a unique destination — with both Quito and Ecuador, as winners — but also through high-quality products."

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In the last 10 years, Quito has become more recognized as a leading tourist destination worldwide, earning praise from The New York Times as one of “places to go in 2008” as well as the “Capital of Culture of the Americas” in 2011.

National Geographic also mentioned the Ecuadorean capital one of the “20 places to visit in 2013.