These awards, considered by some to be the Oscars of the global travel industry, began to make their mark on the international travel and tourism scene some 17 years ago and have since taken a lead in one of the most important aspects of travel and tourism – the quality of customer experience.

The aim of the World Travel Awards is to encourage world-class competition, stimulate innovation and creativity, as well as to ensure that travellers receive exceptional value.

The awards have become much sought-after, with winners seeing them as influential in helping to reassure travellers and boost sales and marketing performance.

Port Victoria was voted as leading cruise port by a 183,000-strong database of travel, tourism and hospitality professionals.

Lt Colonel Andre Ciseau, chief executive of the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA), said: “The SPA is very proud to receive this award on behalf of all its partners and stakeholders. I see this award as a vindication of our policies and strategies to make the port a welcoming and, above all, safe area.

“Our strict adherence to the measures we employ to ensure Port Victoria runs efficiently is not always popular with service providers, but now we see our efforts rewarded and our hard work recognised by this prestigious award. I hope we may now all be inspired by what we have achieved to take Port Victoria from strength to strength in the years ahead.”

The World Travel Awards gala presentation ceremony is due to take place at the Sandton Conference Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday July 7 when Seychelles will also appear on the nomination lists for the Indian Ocean’s leading destination, hotel, airport, airline, beach destination, family resort, golf resort, green resort and honeymoon destination.

SPA-STB