THE BRADFORD district has been named 'Emerging Destination of the Year 2018' for Europe by tourist bible The Luxury Travel Guide. 

The guide, which searches for the most impressive destinations, accommodation and hospitality across the world, chose the district’s ‘literally hundreds of historically significant sites’ as one of its highlights.

The judging panel praised Bradford as a ‘modern cosmopolitan city with a thousand stories to tell’.

The Luxury Travel Guide’s report mentions that the district was selected as the first ever UNESCO City of Film, has its own UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saltaire, has Haworth the home of the Brontes and Keighley Worth Valley Railway, as well as the multi-award winning City Park and Little Germany.

The judges were also impressed with the way the Bradford district has integrated its local communities into its tourist offerings, embracing both its modern multicultural status and its impressive heritage all delivered with a sense of ‘welcoming hospitality which is quintessentially British’.

Other European destinations that have received accolades from the Luxury Travel Guide this year include Tarragona, Spain – Architectural Destination of the Year, Reykjavik, Iceland – Adventure Destination of the Year and Bristol - Museum Destination of the Year.

Over the last 12 months the Luxury Travel Guide invited and encouraged its readers to cast their votes on destinations and tourism associations which they believe have excelled.

All the winners get a submission in the Luxury Travel Guide’s European Awards guide, which is distributed to over 550,000 people around the world.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “We are extremely pleased that our district has been recognised as Emerging Destination of the Year for 2018. Our tourism team at VisitBradford work really hard throughout the year to promote all that Bradford has to offer for visitors and residents alike, and this award is testament to that work.”

Patricia Tillotson Visitor & Business Development Manager at VisitBradford, added:  “We were proud to submit an entry to the award, after the Luxury Travel Guide contacted us to let us know that the Bradford district had been nominated in the Emerging Destination of the Year category.”

Sir Gary Verity DL, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "Being named Emerging Destination of the Year is an outstanding achievement for Bradford and very well deserved.

"The City has a unique heritage with many award-winning attractions throughout the district, all fully embraced by the local communities. Congratulations to Bradford for this magnificent accolade.”
 

What the Luxury Travel Guide said about Bradford

“A city with historical ties to the international textile trade, modern Bradford is a cosmopolitan city with a thousand stories to tell – as hinted by its (literally) hundreds of historically significant sites. Selected as the first ever UNESCO City of Film and possessor of its own UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saltaire the city offers a fascinating exploration of industrial heritage and contemporary importance, found everywhere from its bustling city centre to the stunning nearby countryside villages. This fusion of culture and industry is particularly prevalent in Haworth, the onetime home of the Bronte sisters and site of Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

“If Liverpool and Leeds are glimpses into the face of the glamorous North, Bradford is the region’s no-nonsense heart. The LTG judging panel was particularly impressed with the way Bradford has integrated its local communities into its tourist offerings, embracing both its modern multicultural status and its impressive heritage. Guests from around the world visit to see spectacular shows at the multi-award winning City Park, whilst visits to Little Germany or one of its famous curry-houses let the city bring a little of the world to the UK, delivered with a sense of welcoming hospitality which is quintessentially British.”