World Tourism Film Awards will take place in Guimarães, Portugal | News
For the first time, the World Tourism Film Awards will take place in Portugal, with the city of Guimarães chosen to host the 37th edition of this prestigious international event, scheduled for December 4 and 5. Organized by the International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals (CIFFT) and the Municipality of Guimarães, with the support of Tourism Porto & North of Portugal, the initiative recognizes the best audiovisual productions while highlighting the role of video as a strategic tool for promoting destinations, products and tourism services.
The official awards ceremony will take place on December 5 at Teatro Jordão, in Guimarães, bringing together tourism professionals, creative agencies, production companies, media from around the world, as well as national and international guests from countries such as Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Poland, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece and Morocco.
Every year, more than 4,000 promotional videos from almost 50 countries participate in the CIFFT Circuit, the leading international competition dedicated to tourism audiovisual content. The Guimarães Gala marks the highlight of this circuit, where the best tourism films in the world are awarded in five main categories: city promotion, region promotion, country promotion, tourism products and tourism services. Special awards will also be presented, including the Tourism Press Award and, for the first time, the GreenWorking Awards, created in collaboration with the Spanish agency Normmal and with the participation of the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), to recognize audiovisual productions that convey messages and practices in line with the principles of responsible tourism.
Ricardo Araújo, Mayor of Guimarães, notes that “hosting the World Tourism Film Awards in Guimarães for the first time represents a highly relevant cultural, economic and strategic opportunity for the municipality. Recognized as the birthplace of Portugal and owner of a unique historical and symbolic heritage, Guimarães offers a prestigious setting for this international event, strengthening the profile of the city, the region and Portugal as excellent tourist and cultural destinations.”
Luís Pedro Martins, President of Tourism Porto & North, emphasizes that the festival is being held for the first time in Portugal and that “there could not be a better place than Porto and North, and the city of Guimarães. This was a joint effort between the organizers, the Municipality of Guimarães and Tourism Porto & North to organize and organize the event, which once again demonstrates that our region is capable of attracting prestigious international events.”
“The World Tourism Film Awards represent the culmination of a year entirely dedicated to excellence in tourism audiovisual communications. Northern Portugal is known for its rich heritage, natural diversity and capacity for innovation, and it was in Guimarães that we found the ideal stage to celebrate the best productions of the year,” says Alexander V. Kammel, CIFFT Director.
During the two-day event, participants will have access to networking sessions, expert panels and cultural experiences that encourage exchanges between leaders in destination marketing, the creative industries and communications. The initiative has the institutional support of UN Tourism and the European Travel Commission, among other international organizations linked to the sector.
Following previous editions in Vienna, Austria and Valencia, Spain, this year’s ceremony also strengthens Portugal’s role in the tourism and creative industries. Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the ‘Cradle of Portugal’, is hosting the ceremony as it prepares to become the European Green Capital of 2026, a title that recognizes its leadership in urban sustainability.
