Agros village wins European award as top destination

THE VILLAGE of Agros has been named as one of this year’s best 20 European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) in tourism and intangible heritage.

Presenting the awards this week was European Commission Vice President Gunter Verheugen at the European Annual Tourism Forum in Bordeaux.

Launched in 2006, EDEN promotes the specific characteristics of European destinations and offers particular support to those where competitive tourism is developed so as to ensure the social, cultural and environmental sustainability of tourism.

It offers an opportunity to create a platform for the exchange of good practices at European level, while rewarding sustainable forms of tourism and successful business models.

According to the national juries involved, Agros is “an ideal year-round rural destination to visit that has developed its famous rosewater industry and offers unique opportunities to participate in celebrations of local cultural heritage and nature’s beauty, like the rose festival in May.”

The village is situated 45 minutes away from the cities of Nicosia and Limassol, 20 minutes from Troodos Square

The aim of EDEN is twofold: To draw attention to the value, diversity and shared characteristics of European tourist destinations and to promote destinations where the economic growth objective is pursued to ensure the social, cultural and environmental sustainability of tourism.

Secondly, it also creates awareness of Europe’s tourist diversity and quality, besides promoting Europe as the foremost tourism destination in the world.

The other 19 awarded European Destinations of Excellence in 2008 are:
Austria: Steirisches Vulkanland
Belgium: Ath
Bulgaria: Belogradchik
Croatia: ?ur?evac, the Rosster town
Estonia: Viljandi
Finland: Wild Taiga
France: The tourist wine route of the Jura
Greece: Prefecture of Grevena
Hungary: Hortobágy
Ireland: Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula
Italy: Comune di Carinaldo
Latvia: Latgalian potters, masters of clay
Lithuania: Plateliai
Luxembourg: Echternach
Malta: Kercem, hamlet of Santa Lucija
Romania: Horezu depression
Slovenia: The So?a valley
Spain: Sierra de las Nieves
Turkey: Edirne

The twenty winning destinations will be linked with each other on a special website, (http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/services/tourism/eden_phase2.htm) which aims at attracting visitors both from overseas and within Europe. A representative for each winner was also handed over a special commemorative award.

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