A ceremony that describes itself as the “Oscars” of the travel world handed out awards for the best in travel 2016, bestowing Etihad Airways with the title of world’s leading airline and Dubai the world’s leading destination.

They were among dozens of winners of the World Travel Awards Grand Finale which took place this month in the Maldives.

After a year of dwindling down regional winners in the same categories, organisers of the World Travel Awards announced the global winners at an event attended by 250 industry leaders.

Here are some of the big winners of the 23rd edition of the the World Travel Awards 2016:

World’s leading airline: Etihad Airways
Leading airport: Changi Airport, Singapore
Leading beach destination: Maldives
Leading culinary destination: Peru
Leading cultural city destination: St Petersburg, Russia
Leading hotel: Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Leading island destination: Madeira islands
Leading luxury hotel: Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
Leading luxury resort: InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Vietnam
Leading tourist attraction: Titanic Belfast, Northern Ireland
For the full list of winners visit www.worldtravelawards.com/winners/2016/world. – AFP Relaxnews