At the 2025 World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony held on June 28th at the Johari Rotana in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the Maldives was once again honoured on the global tourism stage, securing two distinguished titles: Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2025 and Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination 2025. The awards, presented during a high-profile event attended by industry leaders and tourism stakeholders from across the region, were received on behalf of the nation by Mr. Ibrahim Shiuree, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/Visit Maldives).
This achievement underscores the Maldives’ continued leadership in the Indian Ocean tourism sector and reflects the nation’s unwavering commitment to excellence in visitor experiences and sustainable tourism practices. Notably, this marks the sixth consecutive year that the Maldives has won the Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination title, having held the title every year since 2020. Meanwhile, the Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination award has now been secured for the second year in a row, reinforcing the Maldives’ rising global profile as an environmentally conscious travel destination.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Shiuree expressed gratitude for the international recognition and emphasized its importance:
“These accolades from the World Travel Awards reaffirm the Maldives’ standing as a world-class tourist destination. They reflect our collective efforts to deliver unforgettable, authentic experiences while protecting the natural environment that defines our islands. The MMPRC remains fully committed to further strengthening the Maldives’ image in the global travel market through consistent and innovative promotion strategies.”
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards (WTA) is considered the travel industry’s highest badge of honour. The WTA programme recognises excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. The Indian Ocean category, in particular, includes some of the world’s most sought-after tropical destinations, making the Maldives’ sustained success in this category a clear indicator of its industry-leading performance and global appeal.
MMPRC, as the national tourism board of the Maldives, plays a central role in promoting the country as a premier travel destination through its Visit Maldives brand. The corporation leads global marketing initiatives and partnerships designed to attract high-value visitors while promoting local culture, heritage, and sustainability. In recent years, MMPRC has intensified its focus on aligning the Maldives tourism strategy with environmental best practices, in line with the nation’s broader commitment to climate resilience and ecological stewardship.
Tourism is the main economic driver of the Maldives, contributing over 28% of the GDP and more than 60% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. The Maldives welcomed over 1.8 million tourists in 2024, with projections indicating a steady increase in arrivals for 2025, driven by consistent branding, improved connectivity, and the growing demand for luxury and eco-conscious travel experiences.
These latest honours not only celebrate the Maldives’ exceptional hospitality infrastructure and natural beauty, but also validate the long-term strategic efforts undertaken by the government and industry stakeholders to position the Maldives as the crown jewel of the Indian Ocean.
For more on the Maldives’ award-winning offerings and sustainable tourism initiatives, visit visitmaldives.com.
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