Labour MEP Daniel Attard has been named best MEP in the field of sustainable tourism at this year's MEP Awards.

The award was presented during a ceremony held on Wednesday, which recognised MEPs for their work across different areas of European policy.

Over the past year, Attard has been leading the European Parliament's work on the future of tourism in Europe.

His report on the sector has received strong backing from the European Parliament and is expected to form the basis of the first European Strategy for Sustainable Tourism.

The award was presented to Attard by European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica.

Attard was nominated in the sustainable tourism category alongside Croatian MEP and former tourism minister Nikolina Brnjac, and the Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism, Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi.

Speaking after receiving the award, Attard said the recognition carried a special meaning for him.

He recalled that, a year earlier, during the same event, he was going through one of the most difficult moments in his public life.

"Today this is a moment of satisfaction that reminds me that difficult times pass, and that the truth always prevails," Attard said.