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India was selected as the winner of the ‘Asia’s Leading Destination’ award for the sixth straight year at the annual World Travel Awards Asia and Australasia held at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand on September 29.

Also nominated for the distinguished award were Bali, South Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Many of India’s well-known companies and brands also won several other major awards at the event including:

* Asia’s Leading Airline Economy Class (Air India)
* Asia’s Leading Experiential Holiday Retreat (Orange Country Resorts)
* Asia’s Leading Hotel (Trident Gurgaon)
* Asia’s Leading Luxury Hotel (The Oberoi, Gurgaon)
* Asia’s Leading Luxury Train (The Indian Maharaja)
* Asia’s Leading Suite (Maharajah’s Pavilion, The Raj Palace, India)
* Asia’s Tourist Board (Incredible India)
* Asia’s Responsible Tourism Award (Orange Country Resorts)

“Asia is powering the global travel and tourism recovery, and tonight’s winners represent the very cream of our industry,” said Graham E. Cooke, president and founder of the World Travel Awards, in a press release.

“The burgeoning middle classes in markets such as India, China and Malaysia are fuelling a surge in intra-Asia travel. We expect this growth to continue for at least the next decade, making the future very bright indeed for Asia’s luxury hospitality sector.”

The Asia and Australasia Ceremony is the fourth leg of the World Travel Awards 2011 Grand Tour, and follows ceremonies in Dubai, UAE; Antalya, Turkey; and Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Montego Bay, Jamaica will host the final heat on October 19. The regional winners will then progress to the Grand Final, held at the end of the year.

The awards are based on votes cast by travel professionals, which include travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organizations in over 160 countries across the globe.