Sri Lanka has won the Visitors’ Choice Award for Leading Wellness Destination at the 10th South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026, held in Malé, Maldives, on October 8.
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, M. Rizvi Hassen, received the award at the ceremony, which brought together representatives from the tourism and hospitality industries across South Asia to recognise achievements and contributions to the regional travel sector.
The award highlights Sri Lanka’s appeal as a wellness tourism destination, supported by its rich Ayurvedic heritage, traditional healing practices, diverse natural landscapes and wellness experiences that continue to attract visitors from around the world.
The South Asian Travel Awards brings together tourism industry stakeholders from six countries: Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The awards recognise achievements across various sectors, including hotels, resorts, travel agencies, tour operators, airlines and other tourism-related organisations.
The 2026 ceremony was held at Barceló Nasandhura Malé in the Maldives, marking another milestone in the awards’ regional journey. Previous editions have been hosted in destinations including Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives and Nepal.
According to the organisers, the 2026 awards attracted more than two million online votes, alongside evaluations conducted by a multinational panel of judges across seven cities. The process combines public participation with professional assessments to recognise achievements in the tourism and hospitality industries.
Established in 2016 by SATA President Ismail Hameed, the South Asian Travel Awards has developed into a regional platform for recognising excellence in travel, tourism and hospitality.
