The Canadian Garden Council is hosting, for the first time in Canada, the International Garden Tourism Conference from November 1 to November 4 in Victoria.
Originally intended to occur in 2021, the International Garden Tourism Conference is convening more than 80 delegates from 12 countries who represent over 40 public gardens in Victoria, often referred to as Canada’s ‘Garden City.’
“We’re excited to bring the conference to Canada’s Garden City. It’s a unique place that not only hosts some of the world’s most beautiful gardens but is also a hub for international tourism, as recently acknowledged by Condé Nast,” says Ibo Gülsen, Chair of the International Garden Tourism Network.
“The Canadian Garden Council is delighted to host delegates from around the world, providing a unique opportunity to showcase our gardens and their respective destinations,” says Alexander Reford, President of the Canadian Garden Council and Director of the Reford Gardens. “Canada is exceptionally well-positioned to ‘Seize the Moment’ and further develop garden tourism, given its abundant world-class public gardens that are fully prepared to welcome both domestic and international visitors.”
Throughout 2022, public gardens quickly rebounded, becoming the first attractions to return to pre-pandemic crowd levels, and they maintained their status as the most frequented destinations by international travelers. This trend has persisted into 2023.
The International Garden Tourism Conference is a cornerstone of the industry, offering a platform for delegates to explore topics related to serving visitors, collaborating with the tourism sector, and harnessing the advantages of tourism visits. Additionally, the conference will feature the presentation of the Canadian, North American, and International Garden Tourism awards.
“This conference comes at a crucial juncture, as it’s increasingly clear that Garden Tourism has achieved remarkable numbers in 2023, possibly making it the most sought-after tourism activity in North America,” says Dr. Richard Benfield, author of the forthcoming book titled, ‘Critical Issues in Garden Tourism.’ “The conference is poised to not only affirm this remarkable success but also lay the groundwork for addressing the novel and demanding challenges that garden tourism currently confronts.”
Winners of 2023 awards
Echoing the convention’s theme of ‘Seizing the Moment,’ the winners of the 2023 International Garden Tourism Awards were revealed.
“As we bring the garden and tourism together at this conference, we take great pride in unveiling the 2023 awardees of the ‘International Garden Tourism Awards,’” says Ibo Gülsen, Chair of the International Garden Tourism Network. “These recipients exemplify true leadership in the world of garden tourism.”
The ‘International Garden Tourism Awards’ are presented to organizations and individuals who have distinguished themselves in the development and promotion of garden experiences as tourism attractions and motivators for travel. The awards are proudly organized by the International Garden Tourism Network, with recipients being selected by a jury.
The 2023 International Garden Tourism Award winners are:
- 1. Garden of the Year
- The Newt in Somerset, United Kingdom
- 2. New Garden City of the Year
- Sejong City, South Korea
- 3. Garden Tourism Person of the Year
- Donna Dawson, Panama
- 4. Garden Festival of the Year:
- International Garden Festival, Canada
- 5. Flower Festival of the Year:
- Tulip Time, USA
- 6. Garden Event of the Year
- Gardens of Light, Canada
- 7. Garden Tourism Website of the Year
- GardenDestinations.com, USA
- 8. Garden Tourism Tour Operator of the Year
- Brightwater Holidays, United Kingdom
- 9. Garden Tourism Honorable Mention
- Caribbean Horizons Tours, Grenada
- 10. Garden Tourism Lifetime Achievement
- Gilles Vincent, Canada
- 11. Lifetime Achievement
- Luc Behar Bannelier, France
“In the spirit of highlighting the world’s most dynamic garden experiences, we are pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of the ‘Gardens of the World Worth Travelling For in 2024’ Awards,” says Ibo Gülsen, Chair of the International Garden Tourism Network.
The ‘Gardens of the World Worth Travelling For in 2024’, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows:
- Bellingrath Gardens, USA
- Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Thailand
- Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
- Giverny Monet’s Garden, France
- Mount Congreve Gardens, Ireland
- Adelaide Botanic Garden, Australia
- Le Jardin Secret, Morocco
- The Butchart Gardens, Canada
- Trentham Gardens, United Kingdom
- Vallarta Botanical Garden, Mexico
- Classical Gardens of Suzhou, China
- Sigurtà Garden Park (Parco Giardino Sigurtà), Mexico
For more information:
International Garden Tourism Conference
gardentourism.org