Quito was chosen as the leading destination in South America for the eighth time and this year it surpassed other cities such as Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Lima, La Paz, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Asunción and Guayaquil.

The award was given at the World Travel Awards (WTA) ceremony, which took place on the island of St. Lucia, in the Caribbean.

Experts from the tourism industry, travel agencies, end consumers and specialized press voted for the selection.

Quito is filled with music with the Ecuador Jazz Festival 2023

According to the municipality of the capital, Quito has positioned itself as a leading destination thanks to the increasing influx of tourists who choose it every year for its historic center, colonial churches and temples, traditional neighborhoods, diverse gastronomy, landscapes and unique natural spaces, such as the Chocó Andina.

Quito was also included in the magazine’s list of the top ten cities in South America Travel + free timeand the place in position 23, among 63 cities, according to the International Association of Congresses and Conventions as a preferred destination in Latin America for holding events.

As the leading destination in South America, Quito received this award from 2013 to 2018, 2022 and 2023.

Quito is one of the cities open for MICE tourism

Between January and July 2023, 403,821 non-resident visitors arrived, according to Quito Turismo, a dependent municipality of the capital.

The hotel occupancy rate increased from 47% in July 2022 to 56% in July 2023, and the average spend rate increased from $90 to $98.

Tourism in Quito has recovered after the coronavirus pandemic, and local authorities expect the sector to generate a turnover of around 1,000 million dollars in 2023. In 2022, it was more than 800 million dollars.