The 23rd World Travel Awards took place in Sardinia on 4th September 2016, and if you are about to book your 2017 holiday, you might want to take a peek at the long list of category winners who picked up their prestigious awards at what is widely referred to as “the Oscars of the Travel Industry”.
Voted for by a jury of hospitality experts, the World Travel Awards covers multiple categories across 5 continents, and while some of the winners may come as a shock to international travellers (Lufthansa was voted best European Airline, for example!), others come as no surprise at all.
Here are just a few of the winners in each continent:
World Travel Awards: Category Winners Africa
- Africa’s Leading Airline: Kenya Airways
- Africa’s Leading Airport: O.R. Tambo Johannesburg, South Africa
- Africa’s Leading Private Island Resort: &Beyond Mnemba Island Lodge, Zanzibar, Tanzania
- Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction: Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
- Africa’s Leading Sports Resort: Legend Golf & Safari Resort, South Africa
World Travel Awards: Category Winners Europe
- Europe’s Leading Airline: Lufthansa (when they are not on strike!)
- Europe’s Leading Airport: Zurich Airport, Switzerland (where a coffee will set you back £5 and a beer £10!)
- Europe’s Leading Beach Destination: The Algarve, Portugal
- Europe’s Leading Boutique Hotel: Vila Joya, Portugal
- Europe’s Leading Luxury Train: Venice Simplon Orient-Express
World Travel Awards: Category Winners South America
- South America’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination: Chile
- South America’s Leading Airport: Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Quito, Ecuador
- South America’s Leading Culinary Destination: Peru
- South America’s Leading Boutique Resort: Charming Luxury Lodge & Private Spa, Argentina
- South America’s Leading Beach Resort: Dom Pedro Laguna, Beach Villas & Gold Resort, Brazil
World Travel Awards: Category Winners Indian Ocean
- Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline: Air Seychelles
- Indian Ocean’s Leading Airport: Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, Maldives
- Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Resort: Andilana Beach Resort, Madagascar
- Indian Ocean’s Most Romantic Resort: Baros Maldives
- Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Resort: Constance Moofushi, Maldives
With all that to work on, you should have no problem booking your 2017 trip! Happy Travels
Equatours Travel News 
Some new names for me….interesting to know them….gonna dig a little more:) thanks for sharing
You’re welcome Raastha! Take a look at the full list on the WTA website: it’s pretty impressive 🙂