Pride London wins tourism award for cultural diversity
The UK’s largest LGBT event has topped off a year of triumphs with an accolade from London’s official tourist organisation.
Pride London won the Gold Award for Best Celebration of Cultural Diversity at the Visit London Awards 2008.
A Silver went to the Discover Storymaking Centre and a bronze award to The Mayor’s Thames Festival.
Accepting the Visit London award at an Albert Hall ceremony last week Paul Birrell, Director of Pride London, said:
“We always knew that Pride London is popular – over three-quarters of a million people turned up for last years event so it is fantastic that this award recognises that popularity and significant tourist income for the London economy which we generate.”
More than 820,000 people were on the streets of the capital for Pride London in July, the biggest turnout for any gay event in British history.
The Visit London Awards “celebrate the richness and diversity of our unique city, and to give recognition to people, places and experiences that make London such an outstanding destination.”
As London prepares to host the Olympic Games in 2012, Pride London announced last month they had won the right to host World Pride in the city that same summer.
Organised by InterPride, World Pride promotes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues on an international level through parades, festivals and other cultural activities.
A video produced to support the winning bid can be viewed here.
London’s World Pride in 2012 is expected to attract more than one million visitors.
The two week festivities will most likely take place from 23 June to 8 July 2012, with the main parade held on 7 July.
“I’m absolutely thrilled that London has won,” said Mayor Boris Johnson.
“London has one of the largest and most diverse LGBT communities on the planet and it is a fantastic opportunity to inspire cities across the globe.
“In an Olympic year, the eyes of the world will already be on London and the city will give an enormous welcome to LGBT people, their friends and families, for what we want to be the most colourful and exciting World Pride festival yet.”
