Maldives has won the World’s Leading Destination award at the Grand Final of the World Travel Awards 2020.
The Grand Final was held virtually on Friday.
This is the first time Maldives won the most distinguished award category of the World Travel Awards. The country competed against 22 other destinations.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said that the award “is the result of hard work of the entire tourism industry to make Maldives safe and welcoming to visitors” despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Upon receiving the award, Tourism Minister Abdulla Mausoom said Maldives winning the prestigious award “is a strong endorsement of the popularity of Maldives amongst international tourists”
Congratulating the travel and tourism industry, Tourism Minister Dr. Abdulla Mausoom said that the president’s “bold” decision to reopen borders, as well as the “strive” of all stakeholders “played an important role” in the country winning the prestigious award.
This superb win reflects the strong determination and sound policies of [President 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”Minister of Tourism, Dr. Abdulla Mausoom
While Maldives was nominated for 40 categories at the Grand Final with eight nominations in destinations category, 53 nominations for 30 categories in Hotels and Resorts and three nominations for world categories competing against world class destinations, several tourist establishments in the country won in these categories. They 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 also won four awards in the Indian Ocean category at the World Travel awards; ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination 2020’, ‘India Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination 2020’, ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2020’ and ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2020’. The country has won the famed Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination award 13 times within the last 16 years.
