The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) is the Indian Oceans Leading Tourist Board and Seychelles the Indian Oceans Leading Cruise Destination in 2017.

This was revealed at the World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2017. The event was held at Sun Aqua Vilu Reef a 5-star beach resort in the neighboring Indian Ocean island of Maldives, on Saturday, July 8.

The Chief Executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board Mrs. Sherin Francis was presented with the accolades at the red-carpet ceremony, attended by tourism and hospitality leaders from the region and international media.

Its the third consecutive year that the Seychelles Tourism Board wins the Indian Oceans Leading Tourist Board award.

Mrs. Francis has described the award as an encouragement for the STB team.

We do not have even a quarter of the resources other tourism boards have given our size but yet we are seen as very effective and this is because we do our work with a lot of passion and enthusiasm, we understand that its a people industry, we never fail to bring other partners onboard and always ensure we value the relationship and support of our friends and partners in this industry all over the world, she added.

This is also the fourth consecutive year that Seychelles wins the Indian Oceans Leading Cruise Destination accolade.

Mrs. Francis said: We are surrounded by the Ocean and this is one attribute that we always recommend to our visitors to discover Seychelles by sea. The award is testament that Seychelles remains one the best cruise destination there is to experience.

Speaking at the 24th annual World Travel Awards ceremony for the Indian Ocean region in the Maldives on Saturday, the World Travel Awards President and Founder, Graham Cooke, said: It has been an honor to recognize the leading hospitality providers from the Indian Ocean tonight and I offer my heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of them.

It is your hard work, dedication, initiative and investment that makes the Indian Ocean tourism sector the success it is today, he added.

Seychelles as a destination had been nominated in six categories in the Indian Ocean region for this years regional World Travel Awards ceremony: Leading Beach Destination, Leading Cruise Destination, Leading Destination, Leading Dive Destination, Leading Honeymoon Destination and Leading Tourist Board.

The World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to recognize the very best travel organizations in the world, through a global vote including by travel and tourism professionals.

Awards are presented for excellence in providing services in different categories of the worlds travel and tourism industry. This includes air services, car rental services, spas, travel agencies and tour operators, hotels and resorts among others.

The awards are first given on a regional basis, with the winners qualifying for the grand final of the World Travel Award.

This years grand final will be held in Phu Quoc, Vietnam on December 10.

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Seychelles wins Indian Ocean's Leading Tourist Board & Cruise Destination accolades at World Travel Awards - eTurboNews