The Maldives has been nominated for the World’s Leading Green Destination 2026 at the World Travel Awards, putting its sustainability record to a global vote as the island nation builds on three straight years of regional green titles.
Visit Maldives Corporation confirmed the nomination and urged travellers, industry partners and supporters to vote for the Maldives on the World Travel Awards site before voting closes on 30 October. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in December.
Who the Maldives is up against
The official World Travel Awards nominees list for World’s Leading Green Destination 2026 names four contenders: Chile, Colombia, the Maldives and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The nomination follows the Maldives’ run of regional green titles: the destination was named the Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
At the regional World Travel Awards gala held at CROSSROADS Maldives on 27 September, the Maldives also collected the Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination, Leading Dive Destination and Leading Honeymoon Destination titles, while Visit Maldives Corporation was named the Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board.
Why a green title matters for an island nation
For the Maldives, sustainability is closely tied to the future of tourism itself. The destination is built around its marine environment and island ecosystems, so protecting reefs, managing waste and supporting local communities are part of keeping the visitor economy viable for the long term.
The green nomination also reflects how the destination presents itself to travellers: a place where the natural environment is the attraction, and where tourism growth must be balanced against the fragility of low-lying islands facing rising seas and warming oceans.
Read our earlier story on the Maldives’ sustainability nomination: Maldives nominated for World’s Leading Sustainable Destination 2026.
Airport also in the running
The Maldives goes to the December ceremony with further nominations. Its main international airport, Velana International Airport, operated by Maldives Airports Company Limited, has been nominated in two categories: World’s Leading Airport 2026 and World’s Leading Airport – Customer Experience.
In the airport categories, Velana faces some of the world’s busiest hubs, including Singapore’s Changi Airport, Dubai International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport. The World Travel Awards, established in 1993, is one of the travel industry’s most widely recognised honours programmes.
Key facts
- Nomination: World’s Leading Green Destination 2026, World Travel Awards.
- Fellow nominees: Chile, Colombia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
- Voting closes: 30 October 2026; winners announced at a December ceremony.
- Regional record: Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
- Also nominated: Velana International Airport for World’s Leading Airport 2026 and World’s Leading Airport – Customer Experience.
