(Seychelles News Agency) - Seychelles has been voted ‘Country Destination of the Year’ by a UK-based publication - the Luxury Travel Guide - which offers luxury travel and lifestyle information.

The award certificate was presented to the island nation’s Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St Ange, at the World Travel Market, taking place in London.

The Luxury Travel Guide is published on a quarterly basis focusing on a specific region or continent. It also recognises the very best of the global the tourism industry.

“Our team of experts have scoured the globe and travelled extensively in order to identify everything from the very best hotels, airlines and tour operators through to highlighting the most reputable transfer service companies,” states the Luxury Travel Guide website.

“Each year the Awards are broken down into regions to coincide with the release of their respective Luxury Travel Guide.  We highlight the pinnacle of luxury with our continent awards and individual country awards which reflect the range of products and services provided.”

Seychelles, an Indian Ocean archipelago of 115 islands is a popular holiday and honeymoon destination with tourism being the main pillar of the economy.

The island nation welcomes thousands of visitors each year who fly thousands of kilometres at times to the Indian Ocean archipelago of 115 islands which boast beautiful powder-white beaches and clear tranquil waters of turquoise and blue.

According to a press statement published by the Seychelles Tourism Board this morning, St Ange has described the award as a ‘real honour for Seychelles’.

“Country Destination of the Year Award for us is also the freedom and diversity our islands offer to our visitors,” said St Ange who is leading Seychelles delegation to the World Travel Market (WTM).

Seychelles Tourism and Culture Minister, Alain St Ange and the island nation's Tourism Board Director for Europe, Bernadette Willemin pictured with the Luxury Travel Guide certificate awarding Seychelles the Country Destination of the Year. (Seychelles Tourism Board) Photo License: CC-BY

Some sixteen Seychelles companies wanting their fair share of the UK tourism market are being featured at the Seychelles stand at this year's WTM.

The annual event, which brings together the global travel trade provides a platform for networking among tourism related business while it is also the opportunity for every tourism destination to promote their products.

Some 13,826 tourists from the UK and Ireland, have visited Seychelles since the beginning of the year up to the week ending October 25, 2015, according to figures available from the Seychelles National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which represents a 33 percent increase compared to last year’s figure of 10,380 visitors for the same period.