The Maldives has secured six prestigious nominations in the Indian Ocean category of the World Travel Awards (WTA) 2026, reaffirming its position as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations and highlighting its continued commitment to excellence in hospitality and sustainability.
Maldives has been shortlisted for the titles of Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination, Leading Beach Destination, Leading Dive Destination, Leading Green Destination, Leading Honeymoon Destination, and Leading Tourist Board. These nominations come as the global travel industry enters its voting phase, with officials encouraging residents, industry stakeholders, and international travellers to lend their support.
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards is widely regarded as the pinnacle of recognition within the travel and tourism sector, celebrating outstanding achievements across the industry. The Maldives has enjoyed remarkable success in the programme over the years, consistently claiming top honours in multiple categories.
Among its recent achievements, the Maldives has been named Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination for six consecutive years from 2020 to 2025, alongside repeated wins as Leading Dive and Beach Destination. The country has also strengthened its sustainability credentials, securing Leading Green Destination titles in both regional and global categories in recent years. Furthermore, it has been recognised as the World’s Leading Destination annually from 2019 to 2025, underscoring its enduring global appeal.
Voting for the 2026 awards is now open to both the public and travel professionals, with submissions accepted until 7 August 2026 via the official WTA website.
In addition, the awards body has announced that CROSSROADS Maldives will host the Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony on 27 September 2026. Located a short distance from Velana International Airport, the integrated resort destination is set to welcome leading figures from across the regional travel industry for the prestigious event.
These latest nominations mark another significant milestone for the Maldives, reflecting both the strength of its tourism sector and the timeless allure of its natural beauty and world-class service.