Scrutinizing of the candidature files was made, in the initial stages, by the European Tourism Academy team, who drafted a preliminary report disseminated among the ECTT members.

Academician Dr. Mircea Constantinescu, Director of European Tourism Academy, presented the list of candidates and the list of reports and accompanying evaluations for each of the 30 countries registered candidatures.

The second day (12 June 2016) of the debate for the WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION AWARD FOR 2016 saw Professor Dr. Anton Caragea, President of European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT) presenting the main report, encompassing the decision that emerged as the victorious candidate.

The report was titled: CAMBODIA: THE LAND OF MAGIC- THE PLACE WHERE GOD`S AND KINGS BUILD THE WORLD!

He proposed the Kingdom of CAMBODIA as the winner of WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION FOR 2016 and as receiver of the FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION distinction for 2016.

The report noted the reasons for awarding WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION FOR 2016 PRIZE to CAMBODIA:

The preservation of outstanding historical and cultural heritage in the form of the former capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Angkor cultural complex, an ample palatial complex from the 9th Century, offering an incredible sense of magnificence of one of the Asia greatest empire.

Today, Cambodia offers tourists bound for the country a rich and perfect open air collection with a rare presence of historical and archaeological treasures that educate and enrich the world.

The KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA is also a perfect center for river cruises and adventure tourism, offering large areas suitable for this special kind of tourism, and the necessary infrastructure to welcome the adventure seeker, its safety and peace, makes the country, one of the world’s top adventure river destinations that make the KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA as a perfect cultural class destination.

President Dr. Anton Caragea asked for a final vote and European Council on Tourism and Trade Assembly unanimously, agreed to bestow the WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION STATUS FOR 2016 TO KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA and to declare CAMBODIA- THE FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION in 2016.

The meeting was also presented with the Official Letter, from the Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of Kingdom of Cambodia.

The world gathering (including ECTT members and accredited ambassadors and diplomats) was presented with a warm salute and invitation from acting Minister of Tourism Mr. Chea Bora, for a mission of high ranking officials of the European Council on Tourism and Trade, to present the WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION AWARD in Phnom Penh, in person, to His Excellency Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of Kingdom of Cambodia, European Academician and outstanding personality in world tourism, today.

The final note of ECTT 2016 Assembly was stroke by Professor Anton Caragea, President of the European Council on Tourism and Trade who emphasize the importance of the moment: the most important WORLD TOURISM PRIZE was entrusted to peoples of CAMBODIA.