THE Bahamas has been named the leading wedding destination at the 2015 World Travel Awards.

Recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which others aspire, the World Travel Awards were established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. The ceremony took place recently in Morocco.

“We in The Bahamas know our islands present an idyllic setting for destination weddings, so it is an honour to see such recognition from a prestigious organization like the World Travel Awards,” Ellison “Tommy” Thompson, Deputy Director General of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, said. “Mother Nature has been very kind to us in providing a stunning natural backdrop for weddings here and the rest of the success is due to the resorts, wedding planners, chefs and all those in the romance tourism sector who work diligently to provide a stellar product that keeps couples coming here to take their vows and then enjoy their honeymoons.”

The Bahamas has diverse offerings for weddings, the ministry said, pointing out couples can marry on one island and honeymoon on another, have a ceremony underwater or have dolphins in attendance. “There are large resorts, private villas or small guest houses that offer as much excitement or as much seclusion as a couple could desire. And the wealth of cuisine options is varied, fresh and delicious. With so many individual islands, each with its own characteristics, offerings and cultural elements, there is literally something to suit everyone and every budget,” a statement from the ministry said.