The Maldives has received the World’s Leading Destination award at the Grand Final of the World Travel Awards 2020 announced at a virtual event held today.

This is the first time the Maldives won the award in the history of the island nation, which is also the most distinguished award category of World Travel Awards. The Maldives competed in this category with 22 other destinations including Dubai, Malaysia, Spain, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka.

World Travel Awards established in 1993, is the most prestigious honors program in the global travel and tourism industry recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence. It serves to acknowledge, reward, and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.

Maldives receiving such an esteemed recognition during the most challenging of times faced by the tourism industry has never been more important.

“Maldives winning World's Leading Destination award is a strong endorsement of the popularity of Maldives amongst international tourists. This superb win reflects the strong determination and sound policies of HEP Solih and his administration, strive and strides of travel and tourism industry partners and employees; targeted #VisitMaldives promotion by industry partners and MMPRC and of course the warm smile of Maldivians. Congratulations," Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom said upon receiving the award.

Maldives was also nominated for a staggering 40 categories at the Grand Final with 8 nominations in destinations category, 53 nominations for 30 categories in Hotels and Resorts, and 3 nominations for 3 world categories competing against world-class destinations, with several tourist establishments winning in these categories.

These awards are:

● World's Leading New Resort 2020: Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa

● World's Leading Luxury Island Resort 2020: The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

● World's Leading Luxury Island Villas 2020: Baros Maldives

● World's Leading Honeymoon Resort 2020: JA Manafaru

● World's Leading Water Villa Resort 2020: Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa

● World's Leading Seaplane Operator 2020: Trans Maldivian Airway

● World's Leading Airport Resort 2020: Hulhule Island Hotel

Maldives has also won 4 awards in the Indian Ocean category at World Travel Awards, attesting to this. These categories are Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination 2020, Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2020, Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2020 and Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination 2020. The destination has also won the famed Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination award 12 times within the last 16 years, this year being the 13th time.