The World Travel Awards, considered one of the most prestigious and comprehensive award programmes in the travel and tourism industry, has announced the nominations for this year's awards with the Maldives nominated in no less than seven categories, including World's Leading Destination. 

The awards were founded in 1993 to recognise and reward excellence in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry worldwide and are held every year with winners being voted for by travel, tourism and hospitality professionals as well as actual travellers, meaning they are generally held in high regard by the travel industry. 

Among the categories, the Maldives has been nominated for the following awards:

• World's Leading Beach Destination: Maldives
• World's Leading Cruise Destination: Maldives
• World's Leading Destination: Maldives
• World's Leading Dive Destination: Maldives
• World's Leading Honeymoon Destination: Maldives
• World's Leading Island Destination: Maldives
• World's Leading Tourist Board: Maldives Tourism Promotion Board

Mr. Abdulla Ziyath, Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and PR Cooperation, says “The fact that the Maldives has been nominated in so many categories is testament to how popular the Maldives is as a holiday destination and also the diverse tourism product we have available. We're incredibly proud to have been nominated and it would be an enormous privilege for the Maldives to win one of these highly popular awards.” 

To vote for the Maldives in one of the nominated categories, visit www.worldtravelawards.com/vote by 26th October 2014. The winners will be announced on the night of the World Travel Awards Grand Final on 29th November 2014, in Marrakech, Morocco.  

 For further information on the Maldives, visit www.visitmaldives.com.