Bellingrath Gardens has been ranked as the best garden in the world

THEODORE, Ala. (WKRG) – Gardens around the world were honored at the International Garden Tourism Conference held earlier this month in Victoria, British Columbia.

He was among the honorees Bellingrath Gardens at TheodoreWhich was included in the list of 12 parks as one of the “Parks in the World Worth Traveling to in 2024.”

“In the spirit of highlighting the world’s most dynamic theme park experiences, we are thrilled to announce the 2023 winners of the ‘The World’s Gardens to Travel to in 2024’ awards,” said Ebo Julsen, President of the International Garden Tourism Network.

The complete list of “world parks worth traveling to in 2024”:

• Adelaide Botanic Garden, Australia
• Bellingrath Gardens, USA
• Classical gardens in Suzhou, China
• Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
• Giverny Monet Garden, France
• Secret Garden, Morocco
• Mount Congreve Gardens, Ireland
• Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Thailand
• Sigurta Garden, Italy
• Butchart Gardens, Canada
• Trentham Gardens, United Kingdom
• Vallarta Botanical Garden, Mexico

IGTN also presented the 2023 International Garden Tourism Awards. Here is the full list of categories and winners:

• Garden of the Year: Newt in Somerset, UK
• This year’s new garden city: Sejong City, South Korea
• Garden Tourism Person of the Year: Donna Dawson, Panama
• Garden Festival of the Year: International Garden Festival, Canada
• Flower Festival of the Year: Tulip Time, USA
• Garden Event of the Year: Gardens of Light, Canada
• Garden Tourism Site of the Year: GardenDestinations.com, USA
• Best Garden Tour Operator: Brightwater Holidays, UK
• Garden Tourism Honorable Mention: Caribbean Horizons Tours, Grenada
• Lifetime Achievement in Garden Tourism: Jill Vincent, Canada
• Lifetime Achievements: Luc Behar Panellier, France

“As we bring parks and tourism together at this conference, we are very proud to reveal the winners of the 2023 International Garden Tourism Awards,” Julsen said. “These beneficiaries embody true leadership in the world of garden tourism.”

The jury that selects the award winners consists of four people, led by Chairman Dr. Richard Benfield.

Full list of jurors:

• Dr. Richard Benfield (Chairman)
  • He has researched, consulted and guided parks on visitor management for more than 25 years
  • Professor and Chair of the Department of Geography at Central Connecticut State University, his research agenda has covered park management in 123 countries and all continents.
  • Author of the popular books “Garden Tourism” and “New Trends and Garden Tourism”
• Pascal Garbi
  • A regular contributor to gardening magazines in France and abroad
  • Author of about 20 books on gardens and plans
  • Jury member at various garden and flower festivals around the world
• Jill Vincent
  • Former director of the Montreal Botanical Garden
  • Vision for the development of Shanghai Zhenshan Botanical Garden
• Trevor Edwards
  • World Gardens Tour Director and Expert Guide

For more information about the International Garden Tourism Network, visit EGTN website.

Also on WKRG.com: Healers Honor Night: Shelia’s Story