Maldives has been recognised as the Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination, Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination and Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination at the World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2017.

Hosted by the five-star Sun Aqua Vilu Reef, the prestigious event was attended by hospitality leaders from across the region.

Also celebrating was Seychelles – hailed by voters as the Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Destination and the Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Port.

Meanwhile Mauritius Tourism scooped the title of Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination.

World Travel Awards president, Graham Cooke, said: “What a fantastic evening it’s been here at Sun Aqua Vilu Reef in the Maldives.


“It has been an honour to recognise the leading hospitality providers from the Indian Ocean tonight and I offer my heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of them.


“It is your hard work, dedication, initiative and investment that makes the Indian Ocean tourism sector the success it is today.”


Cooke continued: “I look forward to seeing many of tonight’s winners later this year at the Grand Final in Vietnam, where they will compete for the global titles.”


In the airline categories, Air Seychelles was voted Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline and Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline Business Class, while Air Mauritius was the recipient of Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline Economy Class award.

Trans Maldivian Airways walked away with the trophy for Indian Ocean’s Leading Seaplane Operator.

Elsewhere The St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort won the award for Indian Ocean’s Leading Island Resort and Sun Siyam Iru Sushi was named Indian Ocean’s Leading Family Resort.

Jumeirah Vittaveli took the title of Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa while Baros Maldives was recognised as Indian Ocean’s Most Romantic Resort.


Also among the winners was Royal Caribbean International - hailed the Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Line for the second year.

Sri Lanka - the guest nation - was awarded Asia’s Leading Destination and Asia’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination, while the Hilton Colombo scooped the awards for Sri Lanka’s Leading Business Hotel and the Movenpick Colombo was voted Sri Lanka’s Leading Hotel.

Partners for the Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2017 included TV5 Monde, Maldives Tourism, Sun Siyam Resorts, Aeroflot, Dhiraagu and Coca Cola.


World Travel Awards Gala Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media.


World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.


Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.


Each year World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective successes within each key geographical region.


A full list of winners from the World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony can be seen here.