Scotland is renowned for its friendly people, dramatic terrain and stunning beaches, a place to find calm and balance. However, four towns have been singled out by Booking.com this month, with Perthshire named the “most welcoming region on Earth“. Scotland also scored four spots out of ten on the list, further proving to be the world leader when it comes to travel destinations.
Booking.com revealed the winners of its Traveller Review Awards 2024, naming the best of the best in the world. The awards were based on 308 million verified traveller reviews, and are based on a period of three years between 1 December 2020 and 30 November 2023. What is more, 1.48 million accommodations of all types received an award spanning over 222 countries around the world.
As part of the Traveller Review Awards, the “most welcoming UK destinations” were revealed, citing the top 10 spots around the country. Four out of the ten were in Scotland, with Auchterarder in Perthshire taking second place, Anstruther in Fife fifth, Drymen in Stirlingshire being seventh, and Nairn in the Highlands placed at the tenth spot.
Moreover, Perthshire is officially the “most welcoming region on Earth”. The area boasts over 200,000 acres of woodland, abundant wildlife, flora, and fauna, and features a wealth of charming towns and villages, with Auchterarder located in the heart of Perthshire with plenty of cute shops and buildings. The town is also home to the Two-Michelin Star Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, which was also named the best restaurant in the UK last year.
Destination Development Director at VisitScotland Caroline Warburton said: “Scottish tourism is renowned for its warm welcome so it’s fantastic to see Perthshire named the most welcoming region in the world, and that four out of 10 of the most welcoming UK destinations are also from Scotland. These awards show the high-quality experiences which can be found across our cities, towns, and villages.”
Regional Manager UK & Ireland for Booking.com Ryan Pearson said: “Our Traveller Review Awards are our way of thanking and publicly acknowledging the top-notch service our partners provide to travellers and the critical role they play in our mission of making it easier for everyone to experience the world.”
“In the UK, we have a wide range of destinations to choose from for every type of traveller, whether you’re after a city break or rural adventure or something in between.”
The most welcoming regions in the world
- Perthshire, United Kingdom
- Penghu, Taiwan
- Boyacá, Colombia
- Trentino – Alto Adige, Italy
- Los Lagos, Chile
- Erongo, Namibia
- Otago, New Zealand
- Lapland, Finland
- Asturias, Spain
- Friesland, Netherlands