New Bedford got some major recognition when the Luxury Travel Guide announced that the city was named "Top Fishing Destination of the Year-2016."

Dagney Ashley, the city's Director of Tourism and Marketing, tells WBSM News that the award recognizes New Bedford's many assets.

"They not only promote our whaling, our history of commercial fishing, they also talk about our waterfront and how we're a great destination to visit for history and culture so it's a great recognition for us that they included us in their Luxury Travel Awards this year," said Ashley.

While calling the recognition an honor, Ashley says it also gives New Bedford greater exposure to a worldwide tourism market.

It goes out to a wide range of folks from hotels, to tour companies, to other destinations such as New Bedford, so that will also influence other visitors to want to visit the Fishing Destination of the Year," said Ashley.

In choosing New Bedford the Luxury Travel Guide cited the city's seafaring history and its mix of Cape Verdean and Portuguese influences.

The guide also mentioned the Whaling City's connection to a famous literary work saying, "As the inspiration of Herman Melville's deep-sea classic, Moby Dick, the main Port of New Bedford has a history of seafaring traditions and a variety of moorings, shipyards and anchorage areas available for both commercial and recreational maritime vessels."

In a letter to city officials Kerry Payne, an Account Manager for the Guide, said receiving the award is a rare honor.

“The Luxury Travel Guide Awards represent the pinnacle of hospitality achievement, championing the best in their respective fields. Therefore, to come out on top is truly an achievement you should be proud of,” said Payne.

Ashley says copies of the guide will be distributed to destinations around the world and the magazine featuring New Bedford will be available in January.

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