Mauritius has once again confirmed its position as one of the leading destinations in the Indian Ocean, winning three prestigious awards at the World Travel Awards (WTA) 2022 – Indian Ocean Region.
These annual awards recognize and honor the winners in each category who have been voted as the best in their travel, tourism and hospitality sector, with the WTAs considered the most prestigious awards in the global tourism industry. Based on votes from travel industry professionals and the public, the winners were announced at a prestigious gala dinner held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, on October 15.
Mauritius’ lush forests, wild waterfalls, unique wildlife, rugged mountains and palm-fringed white beaches, along with its world-class luxury resorts, romantic settings and emphasis on sustainable tourism, earned the following titles: ‘First Adventure Tourism Destination in the Indian Ocean’, ‘First Wedding Destination in the Indian Ocean’ and, for the first time, ‘First Sustainable Tourism Destination in the Indian Ocean’.
“We are delighted that Mauritius has been recognized as a leading Indian Ocean island destination by the WTA and our industry peers in all three categories, as these are all areas of our tourism mandate where we strive to be the best. After nearly 18 months of travel restrictions and lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic, we are extremely grateful that global tourism is on the rise again, and we welcome tourists from all over the world to Mauritius,” says Arvind Bundhun, director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA).
Beyond the beautiful sea, white sandy beaches and luxury resorts and hotels, there are many hidden gems off the beaten track 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 very special little island.
“With the tourism industry reopening, we continue to promote the destination to our key markets globally. These WTA awards reaffirm Mauritius as the premier island destination in the Indian Ocean for adventure tourism, weddings and sustainable tourism,” comments Arvind Bundhun.
In the airline sector, Mauritius’ national airline, Air Mauritius, was also honored at the regional event, winning the Indian Ocean region awards for “Leading Airline Brand” and “Leading Airline – Economy Class”.
Graham Cooke, founder of the World Travel Awards, says: “The interest in the World Travel Awards 2022 program shows that the appetite for travel and tourism has never been stronger and bodes well for the future of the industry as the global recovery begins. The category winners represent the best of the Indian Ocean travel and tourism sector and I congratulate each of them. They have all shown remarkable resilience in a year marked by unprecedented challenges.
