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In a night of grandeur and prestige, Dubai’s iconic Burj Al Arab hosted the esteemed World Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2023. Marking the 30th anniversary of this hallmark event, the gala brought together the crème de la crème of the global tourism industry. The red carpet was rolled out, signalling the zenith of a year-long journey of recognizing travel excellence.

The Maldives, known for its idyllic beaches and azure waters, shone brightly, clinching the ‘World’s Leading Destination’ title. The Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) wasn’t far behind, garnering the accolade of ‘World’s Leading Tourist Board’, a testament to their effective branding and promotional strategies.

World’s Leading New Exhibition & Convention Centre 2023: Exhibition World Bahrain.

Similarly, the Philippines’ unspoiled beaches and coral reefs earned it the titles of ‘World’s Leading Dive Destination’ and ‘World’s Leading Beach Destination’. With its untamed natural beauty, Madeira seized the ‘World’s Leading Island Destination’ award, while Cannes, synonymous with cinematic glamour, was aptly named ‘World’s Leading Festival & Event Destination’.

The Caribbean islands, ever-popular in the romance travel segment, saw Saint Lucia winning ‘World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination’. Jamaica further solidified its position as a versatile travel hub, bagging awards for ‘World’s Leading Family Destination’ and ‘World’s Leading Cruise Destination’.

Riding high on the post-FIFA World Cup buzz, Qatar scored multiple wins. Doha, now a global sports hub, was voted ‘World’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination’ and won the ‘World’s Leading Business Travel Destination’ award. Qatar Tourism clinched the ‘World’s Leading Marketing Campaign’ award in a strategic win.

In categories recognizing new entrants, Dubai’s Atlantis The Royal was named ‘World’s Leading New Resort’, while Raffles Doha in Qatar received the ‘World’s Leading New Hotel’ title. Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning tourism sector was acknowledged, with Red Sea International Airport being named ‘World’s Leading New Airport’.

The Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, a symbol of Arabian luxury and a beacon in global luxury tourism provided a fitting backdrop for the ceremony. Graham Cooke, Founder of WTA, remarked, “Hosting our 30th anniversary at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai, was a privilege. Our winners represent the pinnacle of tourism excellence, raising the collective benchmark to unprecedented heights.”

Arabian Airlines dominated the aviation sector, with Qatar Airways winning ‘World’s Leading Airline’ and ‘World’s Leading Airline – Business Class’. Etihad Airways claimed ‘World’s Leading Airline – Economy Class’ and ‘World’s Leading Airline – Customer Experience’, while Emirates took home ‘World’s Leading Airline – First Class’.

The Jumeirah Al Naseem in the UAE was awarded ‘World’s Leading Hotel’, and Forte Village Resort in Sardinia was celebrated as ‘World’s Leading Resort’.

This event highlighted the best in global travel and showcased the emerging trends and destinations shaping the future of tourism. For more information and a complete list of winners, visit the official WTA website.