Maldives has won three prestigious destination awards at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA).
At a gala lunch held at The Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai Saturday afternoon, Maldivian ambassador to India Ahmed Mohamed received the awards for South Asia’s Leading Honeymoon Destination, Leading Beach Destination, and Leading Diving Destination.
“Winning these awards will indeed enhance the image of the destination especially in the South Asian region. Winning of the awards is also an indication of the visitors’ love and confidence towards the Maldives,” state tourism promotion company Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) said, in a statement.
Launched in 2016 by Maldives based event management company Highrise, SATA has been endorsed by regional tourism authorities and organisations, including the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Colombo Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), Confederation of Associated Tour Operators (India), Association of Travel Agents (ATA) Maldives, Association of Travel and Tour Operators India (ATTOI), Association of Professionals in Tourism (APT, India), Kerala Hotel General Managers Club (KHGMC), Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM).
SATA is the first ever regional travel awards endorsed by multi national associations, providing the tourism sector of the South Asian region with recognition towards their facilities and service excellence. It aims to encourage and raise service standards in the region’s tourism industry.
A record 500 plus nominations from the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal were filed for the 36 categories in 10 segments included in this year’s edition of SATA.