Ijlal Kastal Erdoğan, director of Madrid’s Turkish Culture &Tourism Office, receives the award

The Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism has been named Europe’s Leading Tourist Board at the World Travel Awards 2012.

Turkey’s minister for culture and tourism said: “We are thrilled to have won this prestigious travel award during a year which has seen a number of awards for Turkey and unprecedented press coverage.

“It is also a year in which Istanbul is the European Capital of Sport and when the city became one of three short-listed cities for the 2020 Olympics.”

The awards also acknowledged Turkey’s hotel sector, with awards for Europe’s Leading Luxury Hotel (Mardan Palace, Antalya), Europe’s Leading Luxury Resort (Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa, Belek) and Europe’s Leading New Luxury Hotel (Angel’s Peninsula, Marmaris).

Turkey is one the fastest developing tourist destinations in the world, now ranking sixth in terms of number of foreign arrivals, with a total of 31.4 million foreign visitors in 2011.

Some 2.58 million of these came from the UK.

As a holiday destination with universal appeal, Turkey combines fascinating culture and culinary delights with great weather, stunning scenery and warm hospitality.