Seychelles was among the winners to clinch several key awards for the Indian Ocean at this year’s prestigious World Travel Awards held in Johannesburg on Wednesday July 7.

It was a night filled with euphoria at the gala ceremony for the Africa and Indian Ocean awards as representatives of the islands took home most of the accolades at stake, in the presence of 1,200 of the region’s most prominent industry leaders.

Seychelles’ Fregate Island Private won the Indian Ocean’s Leading Family Resort award, and the Lemuria Resort of Praslin was voted the region’s Leading Golf Resort. The conservation-oriented and ethically driven North Island was presented with the Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Resort award, while Port Victoria was the Leading Cruise Port.

The winners were chosen with the help of thousands of industry professionals worldwide who have been casting their votes online.

Some of the prizes at the award ceremony were collected by Marsha Parcou, Seychelles’ tourism marketing manager in South Africa.

Graham E. Cooke, founder and president of World Travel Awards, said that apart from the higher status for the companies and destinations, the winners gain considerable marketable benefit from their well-earned success.

“The customer care and professionalism of Indian Ocean tourism have come a long way in the years since the World Travel Awards first started,” he said.

“There have been many challenges and issues to confront, but the Indian Ocean has proved that it more than measures up to the test.”

Winners of the regional contest will now compete in the World Travel Awards 2010 final in London, just before the World Travel Market on Sunday November 7.