World Tourism Film Awards honor the best tourism campaigns of 2024

01-12-24

36th World Tourism Film Awards celebrated the best tourism videos of the year, with Switzerland Tourism’s “The Ride of a Lifetime” earning the CIFFT Tourism Press Award 2024. The campaign, which promotes the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, takes audiences on a scenic journey alongside the tennis legend Roger Federer and the comedian Trevor Noah.

In the production, the famous duo is shooting a commercial when a simple mix-up leads them to the “ride of a lifetime,” proving that in Switzerland, you are never on the “wrong train.” The campaign also won the coveted title of World’s Best Tourism Film in the Tourism Products category. Switzerland’s success continued, with two additional awards: World’s Best Tourism Film in the Country Promotion category for “The Perfect Shot” and a fifth-place finish in the same category with “Autumn for Our Senses.”

To receive the CIFFT Tourism Press Award 2024, the production was reviewed by a panel of 84 travel journalists from leading international media outlets across 36 countries. Their feedback underscored its appeal: “Charming, hilarious, tension-filled, brilliant.”; “An original and funny story with characters that allow you to connect immediately.”; “It’s a winning video, unquestionably—it’s great!” shared some jury members.

An initiative of the International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals (CIFFT), the CIFFT Tourism Press Award recognizes the synergy between tourism and journalism. This year’s award featured 66 entries from 23 countries, all competing in the CIFFT Circuit, a global competition for tourism videos and campaigns.

“‘The Ride of a Lifetime’ perfectly captures the essence of Swiss tourism with its unique blend of humor and storytelling. This recognition reflects the film’s quality and the dedication of our jury, whose expertise ensures we celebrate the most impactful tourism stories,” said Alexander V. Kammel, CIFFT Director.

Held in Valencia, Spain, the World Tourism Film Awards marked the grand finale of the CIFFT Circuit, bringing together leaders from the tourism and creative industries to celebrate the very best in tourism promotion. This year, 27 outstanding productions from 16 countries were recognized as the World’s Best Tourism Films across five categories, highlighting the industry's top trends.

The CIFFT Circuit is now open for entries for the 2025 edition. Tourism professionals and filmmakers are invited to submit their best tourism videos and campaigns for a chance to compete for the title of the World’s Best Tourism Film of the Year, as well as the prestigious Tourism Press Award. For more information and submission details, visit www.cifft.com.

About CIFFT

The International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals (CIFFT), an affiliate member of the UN Tourism (UNWTO), is a globally recognized platform dedicated to promoting excellence in tourism-related audiovisual content. The CIFFT Circuit aims to celebrate the creativity and effectiveness of tourism campaigns, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange within the industry. The competition is endorsed by the European Travel Commission (ETC), Central America Tourism Agency (CATA), Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), and Skal International and counts on the support of the Tourism and Society Think Tank (TSTT). Find out more at www.cifft.com