Mauritius wins four awards at the World Travel Awards
Mauritius has secured its position once again as a leading Indian Ocean destination, with the tropical island paradise scooping four prestigious destination awards at the 2020 World Travel Awards (WTA) – Indian Ocean region.
The annual awards recognise and honour the nominees in each category who were voted as being the best in the business. The WTA are regarded as the most prestigious awards of the global tourism and travel industry. Results were announced online this week, based on votes cast by travel industry professionals and the public.
In a statement, the WTA stated that ‘the lush forests, wild waterfalls, unique wildlife, rugged mountains and palm-fringed white beaches of Mauritius’, together with its world-class luxurious resorts, romantic settings and a tasty mix of culinary delights, helped it lift the titles of: ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination’; ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Wedding Destination’; ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination’; and ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Culinary Destination’ in 2020.
The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), responsible for marketing the destination to a global audience, was recognised as ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board 2020’ for the third successive year. In the aviation sector, Mauritius’ national carrier, Air Mauritius, was also honoured at the regional event, taking home the honours in the Indian Ocean region as ‘Leading Airline Brand’; ‘Leading Airline – Economy Class’; and ‘Leading Airport Lounge’.
The award for ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airport’ went to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, Mauritius.
In other Indian Ocean award categories, Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita was named ‘Leading Hotel Residences 2020’. Constance Hotels and Resorts won ‘Leading Hotel Brand 2020’, and ‘Leading Luxury Villa Resort 2020’ went to Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa, Mauritius. Mautourco scooped the ‘Leading Destination Management Company 2020’ award.
“Overall, we are thrilled with the recognition for Mauritius from the WTA and our industry peers across a wide variety of categories, as these are all areas within our tourism mandate where we strive to be the best. For the tourism sector on the island to receive these accolades in these various segments at the highest level by the World Travel Awards means a great deal to us,” says Amrita Craig, Marketer, MTPA.
“This year has been unprecedented and particularly challenging for the global tourism sector. While our borders remain closed for mainstream tourism as we manage the global effects of the pandemic, Mauritius is upholding strict measures to ensure the sanitary safety of both visitors and Mauritian nationals.”
“However, it is important that we continue promoting the tourism offerings across the island to ensure it remains a destination of choice once travel resumes. As such, we have recently launched an exciting interactive digital campaign, #MauritiusNow, to showcase the island’s natural beauty in real time. We have also introduced a long-stay Premium Visa option, valid for one year, for those seeking an alternative work, live, play lifestyle option in a Covid free environment.”
Beyond the beautiful sea, white sandy beaches and luxurious resorts and hotels along the coast is so much more waiting to be explored. As a melting pot of exotic cultures, the sights, sounds, tastes and experiences one encounters in Mauritius are unique to this small but very special island.“As we await the opening of the tourism industry, we know that we cannot rest on our laurels, as we continue to promote the destination to our key markets globally. The WTA awards reaffirm Mauritius as the leading Indian Ocean island destination for adventure tourism, weddings and honeymoons, and cuisine,” comments Craig.
The annual World Travel Awards serve to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. The results follow a year-long search for the world’s top travel, tourism and hospitality brands. Votes are cast by travel industry professionals and the public, with the nominee gaining the most votes in a category named as the winner.
Graham Cooke, Founder, World Travel Awards, says: “The World Travel Awards 2020 programme received a record number of votes cast by the public. This shows that the appetite for travel and tourism has never been stronger and bodes well for the industry’s future as the global recovery begins.
”The category winners represent the very best of the Indian Ocean’s travel and tourism sector and my congratulations to each of them. They have all demonstrated remarkable resilience in a year of unprecedented challenges.”
