Parques de Sintra named “World’s Leading Conservation Company” at the World Travel Awards

Parques de Sintra has won the award for “World’s Leading Conservation Company” at the World Travel Awards for the 13th consecutive year. The announcement was made this Saturday, 6 December, during the official ceremony of the “Oscars of Tourism”, held in Bahrain, on the very day that the Cultural Landscape of Sintra marks the 30th anniversary of its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Responsible for the management of monuments such as the National Palaces of Pena, Sintra and Queluz; the Palace of Monserrate; the Convent of the Capuchos; and the Moorish Castle, the company has once again been recognised for the excellence of its work, consolidating its status as an international benchmark in its field in the year in which it celebrates 25 years of activity.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Parques de Sintra, João Sousa Rego, emphasises that “this international recognition is a source of pride, but it is also a very clear sign of increased responsibility. In a context of climate change, intense tourism pressure and rising expectations from our visitors, this award reminds us that we cannot slow down or be complacent about the path already taken. We must continue to invest in long-term conservation, in the sustainable management of visitor flows and in the continuous improvement of the experience of those who visit us and those who work here.”

João Sousa Rego also highlights the role of employees and institutional partners in this journey: “This result belongs, first and foremost, to the teams at Parques de Sintra – those who care for the forests, welcome visitors, guide, research, restore, plan, communicate and ensure the daily operation of such a demanding territory. But it also belongs to our public shareholders and to the partners with whom we work side by side, because only through this network of shared commitment is it possible to ensure the protection of an asset that belongs to Portugal and to the world.”

“We want every restoration intervention, every recovered trail, every improvement in internal mobility or accessibility to have a tangible impact on people’s lives and on the resilience of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra. Our objective is very clear: that Sintra continues to be a living, inhabited, visited and studied place, where tourism is not an end in itself, but a tool for better caring for heritage, landscape and community,” he adds.

In the year in which the company marks its 25th anniversary, the Chairman of the Board of Directors also highlights the need to look to the future: “After 25 years, Parques de Sintra is a mature company, yet one that remains deeply innovative. We are already preparing for the next 25 years, with a focus on adapting to climate change, enhancing biodiversity, the smart digitalisation of services and an even closer relationship with the local community. We want Sintra to be a global benchmark not only for the beauty of its heritage, but for the way it is cared for, studied and shared with the world.”