The Azores are the winners of the 2013-2014 Quality Cost Gold Award as the best European most sustainable holiday destination. The Ierapetra island, in Crete, was awarded second place and the islands of Gozo and Camino, in Malta, won third place.

The Quality Coast Awards are considered a prestigious honor aimed to assisting tourism operators promoting sustainable destinations.

An international panel, headed by Francisco Taveira Pinto, president of the Quality Coast Jury, selected the 100 European best destinations among 1,000 submissions.This year’s ceremony took place in Torres Vedras, mainland Portugal.

The awards recognize efforts that contribute to sustainable tourism that maintain local identity, natural and cultural heritage, scenic beauty and clean environment.

Last year, the Azores won the Quality Coast 2011 Bronze award together with Madeira and the towns of Lagos, Tavira, Torres Vedras, and Sintra in mailand Portugal.

The Quality Coast Program is run by the European Coastal & Marine Union (EUCC), supported by the European Union. The Quality Coast Top 100 is the result of extensive research and a rigorous assessment of nearly 1,000 coastal and island destinations, according to 120 indicators  in 20 different criteria.

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