Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) has partnered with Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) for the World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean 2026, as preparations continue for the prestigious tourism industry event to be hosted in the Maldives.
Under the partnership, MACL will serve as the Official Aviation Partner of the awards, supporting efforts to promote the event and showcase the Maldives to the international travel industry.
The agreement was signed by VMC Manager of Business Development Aishath Shirany Nasir and MACL General Manager of Air Service Development Nashaya Abdul Wahid.
As part of the collaboration, the World Travel Awards will receive branding and promotional visibility at Velana International Airport (VIA), the main international gateway to the Maldives and the entry point for the majority of visitors travelling to the country.
The partnership brings together two key organisations involved in the country’s tourism and aviation sectors as the Maldives prepares to welcome international tourism leaders, hospitality brands and industry representatives for the regional awards ceremony.
Speaking at the signing, Nashaya said MACL was pleased to support the event and contribute towards presenting the Maldives to an international audience.
“We are delighted to formalise this partnership with Visit Maldives Corporation in support of the World Travel Awards,” she said.
Nashaya said MACL’s role as Official Aviation Partner would extend beyond supporting the event itself, with the company seeking to provide a welcoming experience for delegates and other visitors arriving through VIA.
She added that the partnership reflects the organisations’ shared objective of strengthening the Maldives’ international presence while supporting continued growth in the tourism industry.
The World Travel Awards is one of the travel industry’s established international awards programmes, recognising destinations, hotels, resorts, airlines and other organisations across the tourism and hospitality sectors.
The programme holds regional ceremonies covering different parts of the world, with winners progressing through its annual awards programme.
Hosting the Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean ceremony provides the Maldives with an opportunity to bring leading tourism industry representatives to the destination while showcasing the country’s hospitality sector to an international audience.
The partnership with MACL will allow the World Travel Awards to gain visibility from the point visitors enter the country, while strengthening coordination between the tourism promotion and aviation sectors ahead of the ceremony.
For Visit Maldives, hosting international industry events forms part of broader efforts to maintain the country’s visibility in key global markets and reinforce its position as one of the world’s leading holiday destinations.
VMC said hosting the World Travel Awards will also create opportunities to strengthen professional relationships with international tourism stakeholders and showcase the Maldives directly to influential figures within the global travel industry.
The latest partnership is expected to support those efforts as preparations continue for the World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean 2026.
