Maldives crowned World’s Leading Destination again for double hat-trick

The Maldives achieved a double hat-trick on Saturday, as it was crowned as the World's Leading Destination at the 2025 World Travel Awards – marking the sixth consecutive year that the popular holiday destination has taken home the award.

The island destination reaffirmed its reigning role as the top global tourist destination at the 32nd WTA held in Bahrain on Saturday evening.

It marks the sixth consecutive year for the Maldives to receive the prestigious award, amidst fierce competition from 18 acclaimed global destinations, including Dubai, Indonesia, New Zealand, Spain, and Vietnam.

In addition to receiving the World's Leading Destination 2025 title, the Maldives also won the World’s Leading Green Destination award for the second-year running.

Five other Maldives-based properties and operators also took home awards at the 2025 WTA. They are:

• World's Leading Seaplane Operator 2025: Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA)
• World's Leading Airport Resort 2025: Hulhule Island Hotel, Maldives
• World's Leading Luxury Private Island Resort 2025: Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
• World's Leading Water Villa Resort 2025: Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa
• World's Leading Private Island Resort 2025: Vakkaru Maldives

The latest global accolades follow a strong performance earlier this year at the WTA Indian Ocean Category, when the Maldives won the Indian Ocean's Leading Destination title for the sixth consecutive year, and the Indian Ocean's Leading Green Destination title for the second consecutive year.

Established in 1993, the WTA is the most prestigious honors program in the global travel and tourism industry, recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.