The Vallarta Botanical Garden (www.vbgardens.org) in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, was named one of “the top 10 North American Gardens Worth Travelling For” at the North American Garden Tourism Conference, which took place yesterday under the theme: “Taking Garden Tourism to the Next Level”.
Other gardens included in the list include (in alphabetical order) Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, Georgia, The Butchart Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia, Chanticleer Garden, Wayne, Pennsylvania, Francisco Javier Clavijero Botanic Garden, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, Ganna Walska Lotusland, Montecito, California, Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, Montreal Botanical Garden/Jardin botanique de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, Lethbridge, Alberta and Red Butte Garden, Salt Lake City, Utah
Garden Tourism can be a significant component of a destination’s tourism offering Over 25 million people travel annually in North America to see gardens, and the global market of garden visitors exceeds 250 million. Research indicates that 46 per cent of garden visits result in an overnight stay, and the demographic of garden visitors includes all age cohorts. Destination British Columbia estimates the value of garden tourism in the Province of British Columbia alone exceeds $300 million annually. Latest research in the UK show that Garden Tourism generates almost £3 billion of economic impact. Gardens not only have a significant economic impact but also enhance the tourist experience of a destination, while providing positive social and health benefits.
The Garden Tourism Awards are presented to organizations and individuals who have distinguished themselves in the development and promotion of garden experiences as tourism attractions and motivators. The awards are proudly supported by the Canadian
Garden Council, the American Public Gardens Association and the Mexican Association of Botanical Gardens and sponsored by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association.
Earlier this year it was announced that the Vallarta Botanical Garden had been included in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice 2019 Best Botanical Gardens in North America.
