Maldives wins big at World Travel Awards Indian Ocean 2017
One of the most paradisiacal and famously threatened tropical islands in the world was named the Indian Ocean's leading destination at an awards ceremony that bills itself as the Oscars of the travel world.
The Maldives dominated the Indian Ocean edition of the World Travel Awards over the weekend, taking a slew of titles including leading destination, leading beach destination and leading dive destination.
Located southwest of India and Sri Lanka in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives has long been sounding the alarm about the effects of climate change, with rising sea levels threatening to swallow up the low-lying islands.
For now, the chain of 26 atolls is home to some of the world's most luxurious and exotic resorts, including The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, which was named the region's leading luxury island resort 2017, and the Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives, which took the title of leading resort in the Indian Ocean.
Winners of the World Travel Awards are based on an online voting process cast by industry leaders and travel professionals.
Eyeing a tropical getaway to the region? Here are some of the big winners of the night:
Leading airline 2017: Air Seychelles
Leading boutique hotel: Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel Mauritius
Leading cruise destination: Seychelles
Leading honeymoon destination: Mauritius
Leading hotel 2017: LUX South Ari Atoll, Maldives
Most romantic resort 2017: Baros Maldives
For the full list of winners visit https://www.worldtravelawards.com/winners/2017/indian-ocean.
