The Maldives has once again strengthened its position among the world’s most recognised tourism destinations after being named the Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2026 at the World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony, held at CROSSROADS Maldives on World Tourism Day.
The prestigious ceremony, held on 27 September, delivered a strong night of recognition for the Maldivian tourism industry, with the country securing four major destination awards and Visit Maldives Corporation receiving another important regional honour. In addition to being named the Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2026, the Maldives was recognised as the Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination, Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination and Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination for 2026.
Visit Maldives Corporation, the national tourism promotion organisation, was also named the Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board 2026, adding further recognition to the country’s international destination marketing efforts and its continued visibility across key global travel markets.
The awards ceremony brought together senior representatives from the international tourism and hospitality industry from more than 40 countries, including tourism boards, hotel and resort operators, airlines, aviation stakeholders, travel companies, investors and industry partners. The gathering placed the Maldives at the centre of regional tourism celebrations on World Tourism Day and provided an important international platform to showcase the diversity of the country’s tourism industry.
The event also marked the return of the World Travel Awards regional ceremony to the Maldives for the first time in a decade, with CROSSROADS Maldives serving as the host destination. Located within easy reach of Velana International Airport, CROSSROADS Maldives is the country’s first multi-island integrated lifestyle destination and brings together several hospitality, leisure and tourism experiences across interconnected islands.
The destination includes SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and SO/ Maldives, alongside The Marina @ CROSSROADS Maldives and a wide range of leisure, retail and recreational facilities. Its location and integrated design enabled the Maldives to host a major international tourism gathering while also presenting visiting industry leaders with a broader view of the country’s evolving hospitality offering.
CROSSROADS Maldives itself had further reason to celebrate during the awards. The Marina @ CROSSROADS Maldives was named the Indian Ocean’s Leading Superyacht Marina 2026, while Hard Rock Hotel Maldives received the Maldives’ Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2026 award. SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, was named the Maldives’ Leading Family Resort 2026, while SO/ Maldives received the Maldives’ Leading Lifestyle Resort 2026 title.
The awards secured by properties within CROSSROADS Maldives highlighted the range of hospitality experiences available within the integrated destination, spanning family travel, resort stays, luxury tourism and marine-based experiences. Hosting the regional ceremony at the destination also provided an opportunity to demonstrate the Maldives’ capacity to accommodate major international tourism and hospitality events close to the country’s principal international airport.
Beyond CROSSROADS Maldives, more than 15 Maldivian tourism and hospitality brands received honours across various Maldives and Indian Ocean categories. Recognition extended across resorts, luxury hospitality, aviation, diving, travel agencies, destination management, private island experiences and other segments of the tourism economy.
Among the major regional awards secured by Maldivian businesses, Vakkaru Maldives was named the Indian Ocean’s Leading Resort 2026, while Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi received the Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Island Resort award. The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort was recognised as the Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Resort, and Conrad Maldives Rangali Island received both the Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Resort and Indian Ocean’s Leading Hotel titles.
The country’s aviation and transport-related tourism services were also recognised. Maldivian received the Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline – Economy Class 2026 and Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline Brand 2026 awards, while Velana International Airport was named the Indian Ocean’s Leading Airport. Trans Maldivian Airways was recognised as the Indian Ocean’s Leading Seaplane Operator, reflecting the importance of aviation connectivity in supporting tourism across the geographically dispersed island nation.
Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen, who attended the ceremony alongside tourism industry leaders and international guests, highlighted the transformation of Maldivian tourism over more than five decades.
“Tourism has become the backbone of our economy, a source of opportunity for our people, and a bridge connecting our island nation to every corner of the globe,” Minister Ameen said.
The Maldives’ tourism industry began in 1972 with just two resorts and has since developed into the country’s largest economic sector, supporting a wide network of resorts, guesthouses, airlines, transport operators, travel companies and tourism-related businesses throughout the country.
The latest awards add to an extensive record of international recognition for the Maldives at the World Travel Awards. The country was named the World’s Leading Destination for six consecutive years from 2020 to 2025, establishing an unprecedented run of global destination honours.
The Maldives also secured the Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination title for five consecutive years between 2020 and 2024. Its return to the top position in the regional category in 2026 further adds to the country’s long-standing record at the awards.
Recognition as the Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination also highlights one of the Maldives’ most internationally recognised tourism experiences. The country’s extensive coral reef systems, clear tropical waters and marine biodiversity have made diving an important component of its tourism offering, complementing resort, guesthouse, family, luxury and honeymoon travel.
The Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination award adds another dimension to the country’s 2026 achievements, recognising the growing importance of environmental considerations and sustainability across the tourism industry. The Maldives’ natural environment remains central to the visitor experience, making environmental protection and responsible tourism increasingly important to the long-term development of the sector.
Its recognition as the Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination further reinforces the Maldives’ established international reputation among couples and premium leisure travellers, supported by private island resorts, overwater villas, personalised hospitality and distinctive island experiences.
The World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to recognise achievements across the global travel, tourism and hospitality industries. Its annual programme covers destinations, tourism organisations, airlines, airports, hotels, resorts, tour operators and other businesses across several regions before culminating in global awards.
With five national-level honours and a broad range of awards secured by Maldivian tourism businesses in 2026, the latest results highlight the depth of the country’s tourism offering and its continued presence among the Indian Ocean’s most internationally recognised destinations.
The successful hosting of the ceremony at CROSSROADS Maldives also placed the country before an influential international tourism audience on World Tourism Day, providing an opportunity to showcase not only the Maldives’ globally recognised island experiences but also the expanding diversity, connectivity and scale of its modern tourism industry.
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