Maldives Insider

Maldives government has sought public opinion on tourism laws and regulations in a bid to review the legal framework concerning tourism.

In a statement, tourism ministry said relevant laws and regulations have been published on the ministry’s website. Suggestions can be sent in through email to info@tourism.gov.mv for a period of seven days from January 20, it added.

“Necessary regulations are being amended with reference to comments and suggestions made during the Guesthouse Symposium held on December 29, 2018,” the statement read.

Held as part of the new government’s first 100-day pledges, the Maldives Guesthouse Symposium 2018 took place at the main convention centre of Dharubaaruge in capital Male. The one-day forum was attended by tourism minister Ali Waheed and top officials of relevant authorities along with representatives from 340 guesthouses located across the Maldives.

The main objective of the symposium is to create a platform for guesthouse operators and relevant government authorities to come together and discuss issues and constraints, providing strategic directions for sustainable development of guesthouse sector, which support environmentally sensitive business operations, whilst protecting the cultural and natural heritage of the island in providing maximum economic and social benefits to the local people.

The symposium recognises the need for sustainable development of the rapidly growing guesthouse sector of the Maldives, as well as the government’s commitment to identify and address issues and challenges faced by guesthouse operators and island communities.

Tourism minister Ali Waheed had earlier told journalists that his ministry was in the process of formulating a new strategic masterplan for tourism. Comments and suggestions made by industry stakeholders would be incorporated in the masterplan, he had said.

Meanwhile, the government has pledged to ramp up tourism promotion.

Reflecting the new government’s pledge, the state budget for 2019 includes MVR 104,200,000 (USD 6.7 million) for tourism promotion, up from MVR 34,733,333 (USD 2.2 million) this year and the previous year.

Photo: Mihaaru

Leading Indian-Ocean resort brand, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts, has announced plans to celebrate World Vegetarian Day on October 1 at two of its Maldivian resorts – Atmopshere Kanifushi and OBLU Select at Sangeli.

Both resorts offer dedicated vegetarian-only restaurants – JUST VEG and SIMPLY VEG – that delight the palate without the need for meat or fish.

Atmosphere Kanifushi was one step ahead of the curve, opening the Maldives’ first purely vegetarian restaurant, JUST VEG, in 2013. Following increased customer demand, OBLU Select at Sangeli, which opened in July 2018, launched SIMPLY VEG, offering plant-based fine dining based on seasonal, local ingredients.

Each restaurant redefines contemporary non-meat cuisine by experimenting with original and surprising flavour combinations. Serving mouth-watering Mediterranean, Arabic and Indian combinations and offering a special menu specifically for Jain cuisine, guests leave with a new sense of appreciation for vegetarian dining.

Senthil Kumar, Chef de Partie at JUST VEG, recently won a Gold Award at the Food & Hospitality Asia Maldives (FHAM) Culinary Challenge for a dish that he created. Over 500 chefs from Maldivian resorts and hotels take part in the competition at the annual event, and only the very best win Gold Awards.

Chef Kumar says that guests often leave the restaurant pleasantly surprised about how much they enjoyed their meals, despite the absence of meat. He says: “I enjoy creating innovative and rustic meals that feature fresh, quality ingredients. I love to push the boundaries and create dishes that people might not expect to enjoy, but they are surprised at how much they love it. More guests are seeking vegetarian and vegan options, and we are delighted to be able to provide delicious options for them, without skimping on quality or flavour.”

The resort will be welcoming Italian Michelin-starred vegetarian cuisine chef, Fabrizio Marino, to JUST VEG at Atmosphere Kanifushi in January 2020. Chef Marino, his assistant chef and manager will all visit JUST VEG and work with the culinary team to share their superior vegetarian cuisine knowledge and service skills over the course of a week.

Resort guests will have the opportunity to dine at JUST VEG which will feature specially-designed menus by Chef Marino and his team.

Atmosphere’s first property, Atmosphere Kanifushi, opened its doors in December 2013. The group opened its second property, OBLU by Atmosphere at Helengeli, in November 2015; followed by their flagship ‘Lifestyle Luxury’ sub-brand, OZEN by Atmosphere, in July 2016; and then OBLU Select at Sangeli, which opened in July 2018.

The newest addition to the portfolio, VARU by Atmosphere, offering a naturally Maldivian experience, is due to open in October 2019.

Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts offers guest-centric resort experiences through unique Resort Plans, offering guests a range of all-encompassing experiences, with varieties of dining options as well as a number of complimentary amenities and activities that ensure a relaxed, hassle-free holiday experience at each resort, all while staying true to the brand’s core philosophy: ‘The Joy of Giving’.

Hong Kong Airlines has announced plans to add a fourth weekly flight to the Maldives.

The airline, which operated a charter service between Hong Kong and Male in 2011, began scheduled flight operations to the Maldives on January 16, 2018 with a three-time weekly service. Flights depart from Hong Kong International Airport to the Maldives’ main Velana International Airport every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Hong Kong Airlines had filed for a fourth Hong Kong – Male service from December 7, 2019. The proposed new flight is scheduled for Saturdays.

The airline uses an Airbus A330-300 aircraft, which features a two-class configuration, including 32 full-flat seats in Business Class and 260 seats in Economy Class, for its Maldives service.

Hong Kong Airlines and the city’s flagship carrier Cathay Pacific are the only two airlines offering direct flights between the Maldives and Hong Kong. However, several other airlines, including Singaporean flagship carrier Singapore Airlines and Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia, serve the sector via transit routes.

Established in 2006, Hong Kong Airlines boasts an ever-expanding international network covering nearly 40 destinations across Asia Pacific and North America. The airline also maintains codeshare and interline agreements with 94 airline partners.

Hong Kong Airlines, which has its main hub at Hong Kong International Airport, operates an all-Airbus fleet, comprising 31 passenger aircraft and four freighters. With an average age of around five years, the airline has one of the youngest and modern fleets in the world, following the arrival of its first A350 aircraft in September 2017.

Direct flights between the Maldives and Hong Kong are expected to boost tourist arrivals from North East Asia, especially from Hong Kong and mainland China as well.

China, which is the single biggest source market to the Maldives, has rebound after two years of major declines. It currently boasts a marketshare of 17.4 per cent in Maldives tourism, as arrivals increased by 7.6 per cent during the January-July period to reach 172,834.

Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has represented the Maldives at Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart

The 42nd edition of the PATA Travel Mart opened Thursday in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan at the Korme Exhibition Center. Over 1000 delegates from 60 destinations are participating in the two-day event.

Officials from MATATO, together with representatives from two Maldivian travel companies, join more than 220 tour operators from 60 countries at the PATA Mart 2019, leading the destination stand for the Maldives at one of the major travel trade events in central Asia.

“Since the establishment of strategic partnership with PATA in 2016, MATATO has been taking part at this annual travel trade event. This year, two Maldivian companies are taking part with MATATO at the event,” a statement issued by MATATO read.

PATA Travel Mart is one of the premier international travel trade exhibitions in Asia Pacific, featuring unparalleled networking and contracting opportunities to help travel and tourism organisations access decision makers, meet new clients, expand their networks, establish new relationships, and consolidate existing business partnerships.

“We are excited to hold the first-ever PATA event in Central Asia in Kazakhstan. As the destination stands at the crossroads between Asia and Europe, it is the perfect venue to organise the association’s signature travel trade exhibition in a uniquely transformational city that blends various cultures and heritages of both the East and West,” PATA CEO Mario Hardy was quoted in the statement, as saying.

“The PATA Travel Mart Forums provide the perfect opportunity for participants to keep abreast of the latest trends and insights into the travel and tourism industry.”

In addition to over 10,000 pre-matched appointments between global sellers and qualified hosted international buyers, two forums took place on Wednesday where participants explored the power of technology and the evolution of content marketing.

PATA Mart 2019 is hosted by the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sport and Kazakh Tourism, which seeks to position Nur-Sultan as a MICE hub for Central Asia.

Crossroads Maldives, the largest integrated leisure and lifestyle destination in Maldives by Thailand’s leading real estate developer, Singha Estate Public Company Limited, has finally opened its doors on its two of the nine islands.

After two years in development, Crossroads was inaugurated at a ceremony on Thursday. Vice President Faisal Naseem, tourism minister Ali Waheed, science and technology minister Mohamed Maleeh Jamal, and fisheries minister Zaha Waheed attended the ceremony.

Vice President Naseem congratulated Singha Estate on the visionary project and said Crossroads provices resources to better understand the Maldives: the Maldives Cultural Centre is a place to catch a glimpse of Maldives’ rich history and heritage, and promote local arts and crafts, whilst the Marine Discovery Centre will help visitors understand the environmental situation.

“Initiatives such as these will help underscore the paramount importance of ensuring that these assets are preserved well into the future,” he said.

Expressing confidence that the project will help boost the economy, the vice president identified that it will provide several employment opportunities to the youth who are eager to unlock their potential by pursuing careers in the hospitality industry. He also expressed his hope that women would take up the employment opportunities at Crossroads.

“It is the aim of this government to ensure that women are able to participate in all our key industries on an equal footing with men,” he said.

The ceremony also celebrated the rich history and the prestigious nature of the island nation through various captivating performances including one by popular local singer Mariyam Maeesha, screening of History Channel’s short documentary, “The Making of Crossroads Maldives”, a light and sound show, and an aerial silk show.

Crossroads, a deeply sustainable development owned by Thailand’s leading developer Singha Estate, encompasses nine idyllic islands fringing the Emboodhoo Lagoon in the South Male Atoll. Two of the islands have been used for the first phase of the project.

The first island is home to the vibrant lifestyle district and heart of the mega project, The Marina @ Crossroads — an 11,000sqm retail and entertainment space.

Due to its proximity to the capital city, the attraction serves to inspire the meeting of cultures between locals and visitors, very much the same way the country had done in the past, catering to a variety of lifestyle inclinations including luxury shopping, fine dining, a state-of-the-art event hall, and PADI-certified water sports and dive centre.

A transit hotel, SAii Lagoon Maldives, a Curio Collection by Hilton, targets short-term visitors who can utilise the facilities at the town centre during their stopover for connecting flights.

The sustainable development aspect of the project can be seen through the efforts made at Maldives Discovery Centre, an interactive educational-centre-cum-museum that promotes environmental conservation and Maldivian local arts and crafts. Another is Marine Discovery Centre, one of the region’s most advanced marine life laboratories, that hosts biologists who carry out research and longitudinal studies on sea-life and coral propagation through a Junior Coral Curator programme and a clownfish release initiative that span within the area of 64,000 square meters.

The second island is Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, developed and managed by Singha Estate’s hospitality arm, S Hotels & Resorts. The hotel introduces memorable music-inspired stays featuring a full range of signature experiences and facilities for all ages. Hard Rock Hotel Maldives is also the brand’s first Maldivian outpost.

Crafted under the tagline “Crossroads: Where Cultures Meet”, world-renowned architects, Bensley Design, honours the Maldives’ historical greatness as a crossroads of ancient maritime trade routes between the East and the West. The creation of Marina @ Crossroads is a glorious marriage of old-world French designs, traditional Arabic themes, as well as design concepts from Portugal, China, and Britain.

“With Cross, we are making history. The project has been an exciting and challenging venture to plan and implement for all parties involved: Thai, Maldivian, and international. And today officially marks our first outstanding achievement. By being the largest integrated leisure and entertainment destination in the Maldives, Crossroads will help maintain the notable and continuously rising tourism markets such as China, India, and the Middle East, and attract new market segments of family and locals to the Maldives,” Chutinant Bhirombhakdi, Chairman of Singha Estate, said.

“Crossroads is going to redefine vacation experience in the Maldives and the entire Indian Ocean region whilst also being deeply sustainable and considerate of its environment, history, and culture.”

Naris Cheyklin, Chief Executive Officer of Singha Estate, said that whilst setting sight on promoting tourism and the local economy, Crossroads is also committed to its mission of “building big, protecting the small” — fashioning a mega project whilst promoting the livelihoods of its inhabitants.

During the construction, there was no concrete mixing and no plastering. Singha Estate commissioned all of the projects’ mega structures to be made in Thailand before being shipped to the Maldives in giant container vessels to avoid harming coral reefs and sea-life.

Crossroads also will be home to the Eight New Wonders of the Maldives, consisting of a coral village, iconic tuna sculptures, sunset point, and Emboodhoo canyon, amongst others.

Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives has launched a new global menu, ‘Pesto, Pistou’, bringing its international guests and local residents flavours from the Mediterranean.

Marking another gastronomic triumph for a brand synonymous with culinary excellence for more than 70 years, the expert chefs at Mövenpick’s resort in the Maldives have perfected a new and innovative range of pesto’s (Italian) and pistous (French) to create seven experimental dishes, available at Latitude 5.5 throughout October.

“Whilst our guests and our local fans love to return for their favourite classic Mövenpick dishes, we always seek to surprise and delight with innovative seasonal offerings, or special food-related events. We are certain that our Pesto, Pistou menu will excite the palates of even the most experimental foodies whilst providing a fitting send-off to summer with a tribute to the flavours that conjure up the Mediterranean sun and sea,” Maciej Gruszecki, General Manager at Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives, was quoted in a statement, as saying.

Chef Deden Permana, who heads the culinary team at Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives, will lead the kitchen in preparing the ‘Pesto, Pistou’ based dishes. These two classic European sauces are both based on the aromatic herb, basil, which is harvested in late summer.

Savoury favourites will include seared Ahi Tuna with olive, and eggplant pesto and seafood soup with tarragon pistou. For dessert, a sweet treat with a real difference – Bundt cake with chocolate-mint pesto, served alongside a frothy Mövenpick Espresso.

“We are excited to work with these luscious basil-based sauces, introducing them to guests in ways they have not likely experienced before,” Chef Deden, Executive Sous Chef at Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives, was quoted in a statement, as saying.

“The seasonality of using pesto and pistou is important to us, as basil is traditionally harvested in late summer and preserved into these rich, oil-based sauces that are full of colour, flavour, and healthy omega-3s – perfect for brightening up our cuisine, and our spirits, amidst the cooling weather.”

Pesto and pistou are two versions of a flavourful sauce based on basil, olive oil and cheese. Italian pesto, which originates in Genoa, the capital city of Liguria, Italy, is blended from garlic, basil, pine nuts, grated pecorino cheese (or sometimes parmesan) and olive oil while its French cousin, pistou, is a Provençal cold sauce with similar ingredients, but without the pine nuts and with or without cheese.

Mövenpick’s versions add new surprising ingredients to the blend whilst preserving the essence of both Mediterranean speciality sauces to create seven pesto, pistou-inspired dishes:

Ahi tuna with olive and eggplant pesto: pan-seared yellowfin tuna fillet with a modern interpretation of ratatouille, pine nuts and black tapenade.
Seafood soup with tarragon pistou: a touch of tarragon and a unique blend of sweet aniseed and mild vanilla bring this speciality seafood dish to life.
Tagliolini with walnut-basil pesto: walnuts replace pine nuts to create an imitable new pesto blend that is smooth, sweet and deliciously buttery.
Black cod with pesto Rosso: accompanied by risotto, made from aged Acquerello rice to absorb every ingredient and flavour in full.
Beef fillet with red cabbage pesto: a traditional winter vegetable, with a sweet edge gives this pesto dish punch.
Corn-fed chicken breast with bell pepper pesto: with peas, snow peas, egg, a basmati rice galette and sublime bitter-sweet yellow-red pesto.
Bundt cake with chocolate-mint pesto: a timeless German cake with a cool mint and rich chocolate pesto twist, served with a Mövenpick Espresso.

Nestled on a private island in the northern Noonu atoll, Mӧvenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives promises serene seclusion and tropical tranquillity. The resort showcases a series of unique architectural features and distinctive design touches that complement the soothing natural surroundings.

Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives offers 105 luxury villas, all with their own private swimming pool. Whilst designed as a destination for relaxing and rejuvenating escapes offering a high degree of privacy, the contemporary tropical resort combines comfort and style whilst featuring an array of onsite recreational facilities to entertain a wide range of guests, from honeymooners to adventurous families.

Exquisite culinary experiences are a cornerstone of the Mövenpick experience and the new Maldivian resort offers five unique dining venues. Amongst these are a welcoming all-day dining restaurant, a speciality restaurant with sunset views, a seafood restaurant, a grill bar and private dining room for special occasions.

Enticing wellness and recreational facilities include a luxurious spa with 14 private treatment rooms. Other features include a tranquil yoga pavilion, a state of the art gym, water sports centre, volleyball and tennis courts. The resort will also have a business centre, library and retail boutique to further ensure guests enjoy a convenient and carefree stay.

Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru has initiated a monthly event called Connect to Earth from Dusk till Dawn.

Inspired by the Earth Hour Movement, a yearly event celebrated by switching off the lights for one hour, Banyan Tree Resorts Maldives decided to take the movement to the next level and dedicate 12 hours every month to connect to Earth.

September 14th marked the first of what will be a series of Connect to Earth from Dusk Till Dawn events, and the monthly occurrence is set to take place during full moon to take advantage of the moon’s natural luminescence as the two resorts switch off the lights from 6pm until 6am the following day.

“By switching off the lights for one hour, we can make a substantial difference in the energy consumption and we can help reduce the effect of global warming,” Hicham Najdi, the General Manager of Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru, was quoted in a statement, as saying.

“Just imagine how much more we can save if we switch off the lights for twelve hours every month instead of just one hour every year.”

The resorts dubbed the monthly occurrence as 6to6, taken from the start and end time of the event. The restaurants and bars will be candlelit in the evening and a special full moon in villa dinner can be arranged for the guests upon request.

An “Under the Full Moon Night Snorkel” with the Marine Lab Team will be organised as part of the 6to6, aiming to give a delightfully unique underwater experience to the guests.

The event aims to help raise awareness and show support in sustainable approaches to tackle climate change.

Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru opened its door in 1995 and is the first international chain resort in the Maldives. With just 48 pool villas dotting around the island, privacy and relaxation can easily be attained. The resort has a restaurant, bar, PADI Gold Palm five-star resort dive centre and a Banyan Tree Spa. It is also home to the Banyan Tree Maldives Marine Lab, the first of its kind to be funded and built on a private resort, where guests can learn about marine conservation and partake in the many sustainability activities on offer including coral planting, reef cleaning and daily stingray feeding sessions.

Angsana Ihuru is surrounded by one of the most vibrant and well preserved coral house reefs in the Maldives. The resort has 45 villas, a restaurant and a bar, a PADI Gold Palm five-star resort dive centre and an Angsana Spa.

Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru are located in North Male Atoll, just 25 minutes away by speedboat from the airport. The two resorts are just five minutes by boat away from each other.

Thomas Cook, one of the leading European tour operators to Maldives is facing race against time to stay in business. The world’s oldest travel company could fall into administration unless it finds £200m in extra funds needed to secure its future.

The company says it is in talks with stakeholders such as leading Chinese shareholder Fosun to bridge a funding gap. Industry analysts say there were still “reasonable prospects” of a deal and suggested the UK government could help.

Tourists have previously been reassured they will not be left out of pocket if the firm sells, splits or closes. That’s because Thomas Cook’s package holidays are Atol protected. This means customers who have booked holidays with the firm are protected and can’t get stranded abroad or be left out of pocket.

However this doesn’t apply in the case of people booking flights and accommodation separately.

Thomas Cook also number of other brands under their umbrella including tour operators, hotels and resorts.

Indian actress Sonakshi Sinha is back in Maldives or as she calls it, “My favourite place in the whole wide world.”

Sonakshi, who spent a week-long getaway in the Maldives a year ago, in arrived in the Maldives Saturday afternoon and travelled to Jumeirah Vittaveli resort.

After arriving in the luxury resort, she shared a photo of herself in a swimsuit, captioning the photo, “Should’ve been under the Maldivian sun, but we got some rain instead!! No problem because @jumeirahvittaveli makes the waiting inside worth it too!! Love being back in my favorite place in the whole wide world!!!”

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Should’ve been under the Maldivian sun, but we got some rain instead!! No problem because @jumeirahvittaveli makes the waiting inside worth it too!! Love being back in my favorite place in the whole wide world!!! #jumeirahvittaveli #everythingcloser

A post shared by Sonakshi Sinha (@aslisona) on Sep 21, 2019 at 12:26am PDT

Daughter of actors Shatrughan Sinha and Poonam Sinha, Sonakshi made her acting debut in the action-drama film Dabangg (2010), which won her all the Debut awards including the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

Sonakshi has played the romantic interest of the male protagonists in several top-grossing action-dramas, including Rowdy Rathore (2012), Son of Sardaar (2012), Dabangg 2 (2012) and Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty (2014). She received critical acclaim for her portrayal of a woman suffering from tuberculosis in the romantic drama Lootera (2013), for which she received a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

In addition to acting in films, Sonakshi sung a small part in the Imran Khan song “Let’s Celebrate” in her film Tevar (2015). She then made her official singing debut with the single “Aaj Mood Isqholic hai” and sung in a total of four of her films.

Located a short 20-minute ride on board a luxurious motorised catamaran from the main Velana International Airport, Jumeirah Vittaveli offers unmatched diversity, subtle luxury and personalised exploration, whether you are seeking a romantic getaway or an exotic destination for your family.

The 3,500 square metre Royal Residence can accommodate 14 people, with prices from USD 35,000 per night. This lavish private retreat comprises private beach, dedicated restaurant, spa, two swimming pools, an overwater sundeck, jetty, chef, butler and golf buggy chauffeur. Guests can enjoy a private yacht transfer to the residence and spacious accommodation, which comprises the main Sanctuary, two Guest Villas and a double-storey guest house. An abundance of lounge and seating spaces provide the opportunity to spend quality time together. Each stay at the Royal Residence comes with a host of benefits such as daily evening canapes and champagne, personal fitness trainer as well as wellness consultant and 24-hour resident butler service. Wellness treatments can be enjoyed in the private Talise spa room inside the Sanctuary complex.

In addition to the Royal Residence, Jumeirah Vittaveli comprises 89 villas and suites each with their own swimming pool and direct access to the beach or lagoon. The private and spacious villas are available with one or two bedrooms making them the ideal accommodation for both families and couples.

Guests can enhance their romantic escape and stay at the picturesque Private Ocean Retreats, an indulgent hideaway with a loft-style bedroom upstairs, overwater hammocks, private infinity pool and full outdoor daybed. The villas are freestanding in the lagoon ensuring maximum privacy while only a two-minute ride on board the complimentary boat service from the main island. The Private Ocean Retreats are designed to offer all the resort services, from in-villa dining and yoga on a open air deck to an indulgent couple’s massage.

For the evenings, guests have the choice of a culinary journey through India in the resort’s signature restaurant Swarna, or an overwater fine dining experience featuring French cuisine at Fenesse.

The Talise spa at Jumeirah Vittaveli has been named Best Luxury Wellness Spa in Maldives by the World Travel Awards in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Treatments at the spa are inspired by concepts of light and space connecting with the purity and vibration of ingredients. The team produces their own island made 100 percent pure coconut oil, which is used in treatments and available as a take-home souvenir. The garden and overwater treatment rooms provide romantic spaces for couples who wish to enjoy blissful relaxation, while the spa menu also includes dedicated Mother-Daughter and Father-Son pampering sessions.

Jumeirah Vittaveli offers romantic escapes as well as a variety of land and water-based activities, including the destination’s first ice rink, a PADI Dive base, water sports centre, six restaurants and bars, and two lounges. An underground tasting room and a wine library will open soon.

Maldives is amongst the most sought after destinations by high profile personalities and celebrity travellers from around the world.

Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio and American TV personality Paris Hilton have partied in the Maldives. The likes of English singer and television presenter Rochelle Humes and her husband Marvin, and British TV personality Billie Faiers have all declared the Maldives as their favourite part of the world for a relaxing getaway. Another British singer Perrie Edwards and English actress Millie Mackintosh have also fell in love with the white sands, turquoise waters and the blue skies of the Maldives.

Hollywood actress Gal Gadot and Lindsay Lohan along with Bollywood personalities such as Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra, Parineeti Chopra, the Bachchan family and Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi, as well as world-renowned music artists such as Robin Thicke and Justin Bieber have declared their love for the Maldives.

Sports personalities, including the likes of David Beckham, Carlos Tevez, Arjen Robben, Miroslav Klose, Franz Beckenbauer, Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcel Desailly and Mohamed Salah have also spent their hard-earned vacations in the tropical paradise.

India has also become a major source market for the Maldives’ tourism industry.

Official figures show that 90,474 tourists arrived in Maldives from its closest neighbour last year, a nine per cent increase from the 83,019 Indian travellers that chose the Maldives in 2017.

That growth has continued this year as well, as the number of Indian tourists that visited the Maldives recorded a 96.4 per cent increase in the first five months of the year to reach 66,265 compared to 33,734 in the same period last year.

Furaveri Maldives is set to host the first ever international beach volleyball tournament in Maldives.

The President of Maldives Invitational Beach Volleyball Tournament is organised by Maldives Volleyball Veterans (MVV) and Ministry of Youth Sports and Community Empowerment in collaboration with Biggs Island Productions (BIP) and Beach Volleyball Thailand (BVT).

The tournament, hosted by Furaveri Maldives, will kick off on September 27 and will conclude on September 29. During the tournament, Maldivian teams will be joined by 26 international teams, including those from North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Australia.

The tournament will have male and female athletes in a ‘Men’s Pro Doubles’ division, a ‘Mixed Rec Doubles Division’, and a ‘Mixed Rec Quattro Division’. Each team will play in round-robin format leading up to knockout rounds and finals on September 29 where the winning team will be awarded prize money of USD 7,000.

The athletes will enjoy four nights at the magical Furaveri Maldives: three days of beach volleyball on a world-renowned beach; nightly activities/parties; domestic flight and all transfers within the Maldives, including VIP fast-track clearance through Maldives Immigration; a welcome package, complimentary daily spa/massage; and complimentary nightly fishing trips.

Don’t miss this bucket list opportunity to see high-level beach volleyball in one of the most sought-after island destinations in the world, the Maldives, where sands are white as the smiles of the locals and fish swim happily in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

Located in the exotic Raa atoll in the northern part of the Maldives, Furaveri is accessible by a 45-minute seaplane flight from the main Velana International Airport.

The 107 private villas have been specifically designed to meet guests’ individual preferences and are set amongst lush vegetation, in the first row on a sandy white beach or settled above a sparkling turquoise lagoon.

Situated on the northern shore of the island, Jaafaeiy Restaurant serves exclusive cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner from around the world with various choices of international and continental dishes. The buffet includes live cooking stations where food is prepared to individual desires.

Furaveri Spa is a holistic sanctuary where guests will find themselves in a serene world of delicate scents with a comprehensive range of facilities in a beautiful wooden interior that echoes Furaveri. With four open air pavilions and four air conditioned pavilions for side-by-side couple treatments, separate steam bath, sauna, jacuzzi, relaxation area as well as manicure and pedicure, Furaveri Spa offers a wide range of soothing massages and refreshing body treatments to promote relaxation and renew energy.

Furaveri is blessed with an incredible house reef with turtles, sharks, rays, barracuda, napoleons, tuna and trevally as well as colourful corals. The resort’s PADI five-star certified dive centre offers a full range of PADI programmes, from Discover Suba Diving to PADI Divemaster along with daily dives and guided snorkelling trips.

South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) has celebrated the best of tourism in South Asia, as Sri Lanka hosted the fourth edition of the regional travel awards.

SATA, which held its first ever gala in Sri Lanka in 2016, returned to Sri Lanka this year, with Amari Galle hosting the SATA Gala Retreat 2019 from September 19-20.

The first day of the event presented networking opportunities for the attendees, whilst industry experts participated in panel discussions about promoting South Asia as a regional tourist destination and working together to tackle challenges that the region faces in terms of tourism.

The SATA Gala Retreat continued onto a second day at Amari Galle, with its most awaited event, the SATA Gala and Awards ceremony, where winners were announced.

Over 500 travel and tourism businesses operating in the South Asian region were nominated for this year’s edition of the awards.

Voting for the nominees closed in July, whilst nominee evaluations were conducted by a four-member jury in major cities in the region, including Colombo, Bangalore, New Delhi, Kathmandu and Dhaka.

Partners of the fourth edition of SATA include: Velana International Airport (Platinum Partner), Amari Galle (Official Host), The Hawks Pvt. Ltd. (Gold Partner), Dhivehi Insurance Company (Official Insurance Partner), Life.lk (Silver Partner), Ad Solutions Digital Communications (Silver Partner), Sole Asia.com (Silver Partner) and Ramada Colombo (Hospitality Partner).

Top travel publications in the region also serve as this year’s edition of SATA: Maldives Insider (Travel News Partner), The Islandchief (Tabloid Partner), One Online (Online News Partner), Maldives Business Review (Business News Partner), and Digital Studio (Photography Partner).

Launched in 2016 by Maldives based event management company Highrise, SATA has been endorsed by regional tourism authorities and organisations, including the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Colombo Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), Confederation of Associated Tour Operators (India), Association of Travel Agents (ATA) Maldives, Association of Travel and Tour Operators India (ATTOI), Association of Professionals in Tourism (APT, India), Kerala Hotel General Managers Club (KHGMC), Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM), Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), and The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL).

SATA is the first ever regional travel awards endorsed by multi national associations, providing the tourism sector of the South Asian region with recognition towards their facilities and service excellence. It aims to encourage and raise service standards in the region’s tourism industry.

Over the past three years, the SATA Gala has been held in Sri Lanka, Maldives and India.

Soneva Fushi has announced plans to host an exclusive five-day Festive Football Camp with legendary international football stars, Mikael Silvestre and Karina LeBlanc.

Young football fans at Soneva Fushi are in for an exciting treat over this year’s festive season. Between December 20 and 24, the world-leading Maldivian resort will be hosting an exclusive Festive Football Camp with former professional football stars, Mikael Silvestre and Karina LeBlanc.

It will be the second time these legendary players have shared their skills and experience with Soneva’s guests, following on from the popularity of the previous football camp that took place over Easter earlier this year.

French player Mikael made his name playing for some of the world’s best-known football clubs – during his illustrious career he played for Inter Milan, Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as gaining 40 caps with the French national side.

Recently retired from her professional career on the pitch, Karina played in goal for some of North America and Canada’s most prestigious women’s teams, as well as representing Canada in five World Cups and two Olympic Games, winning bronze at the London 2012 Olympics.

Aimed at children and teens of all levels and abilities, Soneva Fushi’s five-day programme is priced at USD150++ per child per day.

Training sessions will take a holistic approach, focusing on the different aspects of the ‘beautiful game’ – this will not only include technical and physical skills, such as hand-eye coordination, dribbling and running with the ball, changing speed and controlling and directing the ball, but will also look at psychology and the young players’ social and emotional connection to the sport, including gaining confidence, decision-making, communicating, team-building and making new friends.

Each day will feature around two to three hours of training, split into morning skills sessions and a match every evening. As well as being a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from two of the world’s top former players, participants will also receive a t-shirt as a souvenir of this unique and memorable experience to take home.

World-leading luxury resort operator Soneva runs two resorts in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani.

In 1995, the award-winning luxury resort Soneva Fushi set the standard for all desert island barefoot luxury hideaways in the Maldives. Located in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Soneva Fushi pairs Robinson Crusoe fantasy with intelligent luxury.

Sixty-two private villas with their own stretch of beach are hidden among dense foliage within touching distance of a pristine coral reef. Intuitive service is provided by Mr./Ms. Friday butlers.

Highlights include the open-air Cinema Paradiso, counting Saturn’s rings in the high-tech Observatory, the home-made chocolate and ice cream rooms, five hundred wines to choose from, six different restaurants and countless destination dining options. In November 2015, Soneva launched a floating villa concept, Soneva in Aqua, a treasure trove children’s Den and a multi-purpose facility encompasses a glass gallery, boutique and studio where guests can learn the art of glass blowing.

If the experiences are magical, the philosophy is simple: No news, no shoes. No pretensions either.

Maldives idyll Amilla Fushi has invited tennis fans to perfect their serve this November with a four-day tennis camp hosted by former world No. 1 Junior and German professional Mischa Zverev.

From November 23-27, the ATP internationally ranked tennis star will demonstrate first-hand what it takes to be a champion with a daily programme of high energy drills, technical skills and competition tactics, all complemented by Amilla’s exceptional tennis facilities.

Mischa Zverev, brother to world No. 3 Alexander ‘Sascha’ Zverev, started playing tennis at the remarkable age of two. Twenty years later he proudly claimed a position amongst the Top 50 and achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 25 in 2017, beating world No. 1 Andy Murray in four sets at the 2017 Australian Open.

Aimed at players 12 years and above, and open to all skill levels from beginners to budding professionals, Mischa will lead daily two-hour group sessions focusing on aspects as specific as groundstroke, forehand and backhand training; volley and tactics strategy sessions; and footwork practice.

Culminating on 28 November, guests are invited to team up with a partner to put their new skills to the test and challenge other pairs and the resort’s management team in an exciting doubles tennis tournament.

Budding young champs can also schedule personalised one-to-one or group sessions with Amilla’s resident professional tennis coaches.

In addition to the private tuition, the resort offers a range of training programmes and challenges including Challenge The Pro, where guests can take on the pro in a tie break to win a free session; a Kids’ Tennis Clinic specially created for under 12s; Train Like a Pro drills up against the ball machine and a service speed-gun challenge.

With two floodlit hard courts, complimentary equipment hire and a range of coaching programmes to suit their ability, guests at Amilla Fushi have every reason to refine their stroke play.

Any post-match tennis elbow can be soothed at the resort’s Banyan tree-shaded Javvu Spa as the resort welcomes full-time ATP physiotherapist Hugo Gravil on November 28. With 25 years experience, Hugo specialises in Osteoptherapy and Manual therapy, and is currently working with Alexander Zverev.

Located just 30 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport, Amilla Fushi offers a choice of 59 Houses that sit gracefully over crystal clear waters, nestle among lush tree tops or hug the shores of pristine white sand; plus eight spectacular four- to eight-bedroom Beach Residences ideally suited to large families, groups of friends and VVIPs seeking the ultimate in space and privacy.

Amilla’s innovative restaurants range from the diverse, informal foodie hub Baazaar to the relaxed yet sophisticated overwater dining at the signature Feeling Koi. Guests can even drop in to gourmet café and deli The Emperor General Store or The Wine Shop & Cellar Door to treat themselves to lighter snacks, a favourite bottle or a gourmet selection of artisanal cheeses.

With an unrivalled range of purpose-designed multi-bedroom accommodation options, and an exciting, inspiring and active Kids’ Club The Sultan’s Village, Amilla Fushi is putting the Maldives on the map as a destination not just for couples, but for families and friends.

The Four-Day Tennis Camp by Mischa Zverev is complimentary and exclusive to guests of Amilla Fushi. For further information and bookings, visit www.amilla.mv, email stay@amilla.mv or call +960 6606444

Thomas Cook’s 178-year existence came to an end on Monday after the British travel firm failed to find private investment to keep it afloat, affecting thousands of holidaymakers.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said the tour operator has “ceased trading with immediate effect”.

It has also triggered the biggest ever peacetime repatriation aimed at bringing more than 150,000 British holidaymakers home.

Peter Fankhauser, Thomas Cook’s chief executive, said the firm’s collapse was a “matter of profound regret”.

The tour operator’s failure puts 22,000 jobs at risk worldwide, including 9,000 in the UK.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the tour operator’s collapse was “very sad news for staff and holidaymakers”.

He urged holidaymakers to be “understanding with staff” amid the “enormous” task of bringing people home.

Shapps has announced that the government and CAA has hired dozens of charter planes to fly customers home free of charge.

The emergency operation, codenamed Operation Matterhorn, will aim to bring home Britons currently on holiday with the firm.

On Sunday, empty aircraft had already started to be flown overseas, ready to bring British tourists home on Monday.

The CAA said in a statement: “All Thomas Cook bookings, including flights and holidays, have now been cancelled.

“We know that a company with such long-standing history ceasing trading will be very distressing for its customers and employees and our thoughts are with everyone affected by this news.”

All customers currently abroad with Thomas Cook who are booked to return to the UK over the next two weeks will be brought home “as close as possible” to their booked return date, a statement said.

Flights will start operating from Monday, with details of each flight to be posted on a dedicated website as soon as they are available.

Customers have been urged not to cut short their holiday or go to the airport without checking the website for more information about their return journey.

The UK CAA is also contacting hotels accommodating Thomas Cook customers, who have booked as part of a package, to tell them that the cost of their accommodation will be covered by the government, through the Air Travel Trust Fund/ATOL cover.

Thomas Cook had secured a £900m rescue deal led by its largest shareholder Chinese firm Fosun in August, but a recent demand from its lending banks to raise a further £200m in contingency funding had put the deal in doubt.

The holiday company had spent all Sunday in talks with lenders trying to secure the additional funding and salvage the deal, but to no avail.

It had also asked the government for financial aid, a solution also urged by Labour and union groups.

But on Sunday Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC the government did not “systematically step in” when businesses went under unless there was “a good strategic national interest”

Customers on a package holiday have Atol protection – a fund paid for through industry levies – which will cover the cost of their holiday and repatriation.

Thomas Cook has blamed a series of issues for its problems including political unrest in holiday destinations such as Turkey, last summer’s prolonged heatwave and customers delaying booking holidays because of Brexit.

But the firm has also faced fierce competition from online travel agents and low-cost airlines.

In addition, many holidaymakers are putting together their own holidays and not using travel agents.

What are your rights?

If you are on a package holiday you are covered by the Air Travel Organiser’s Licence scheme (Atol).

The scheme will pay for your accommodation abroad, although you may have to move to a different hotel or apartment.

Atol will also pay to have you brought home if the airline is no longer operating.

If you have holiday booked in the future you will also be refunded by the scheme.

If you have booked a flight-only deal you will need to apply to your travel insurance company or credit card and debit card provider to seek a refund.

When Monarch Airlines collapsed in 2017, the British government organised to bring home all the stranded passengers, whether they were covered by Atol or not.

Thomas Cook and Maldives

Thomas Cook had been one of the leading European tour operators to the Maldives, with the firm heavily contributing to the growth of the UK market in Maldives’ tourism.

The latest official figures released by the Maldives’ tourism ministry put the UK at the fourth position amongst the top source markets to the Maldives with a marketshare of 7.4 per cent. Visitor numbers from the UK saw an increase of 11.1 per cent to reach 73,262 during the first seven months of the year.

Thomas Cook also runs a resort on the island of Eriyadu under its “smartline” brand.

Note: Includes reporting by the BBC and AFP.

Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has announced the appointment of Thomas Weber as the new General Manager of Dusit Thani Maldives.

Thomas brings with him more than 25 years of international experience leading pre-opening and operational hotels for brands such as Sun International, Hilton, Mövenpick, and The Leela. During his career, he has worked in seven different countries, including Hong Kong, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, Kenya, Switzerland and the Maldives. He began his management positions as Food and Beverage Manager and worked his way up to become Executive Assistant Manager, General Manager and Regional General Manager.

Prior to joining Dusit International, he held the position of Regional General Manager Maldives for the five-star Diamonds Thudufushi Resort and Athuruga Resort, both under the Planhotel Hospitality Group. He was also involved in the pre-opening of Sandies Bathala, a new resort with 70 rooms and overwater villas.

During his career, he has served as General Manager of Mövenpick Resort Al Nawras, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Mövenpick Hotel & Spa, Bangalore India; and Oberwaid Kurhotel & Privatklinik, St Gallen Switzerland, amongst others.

Thomas, a Swiss National, holds a Management degree from Belvoirpark Hotel Management School in Zürich and an Executive Leadership degree from SHV/VDH in Switzerland. He started his career as a chef at the Hotel Pardenn in Klosters, Switzerland.

“Thomas’s appointment is a key milestone in the whole journey of Dusit Thani Maldives. His energy, enthusiasm and regional experience is another great asset to have him on board. I have no doubt Thomas will do a great job and continue to achieve great results and provide our guests with memorable experiences,” Thierry Douin, Senior Vice President – Operations of Dusit International, was quoted in a statement, as saying.

Located on Mudhdhoo Island in Baa atoll — the Maldives’ first ever UNESCO biosphere reserve — Dusit Thani Maldives blends gracious Thai hospitality with the unparalleled luxury setting of the Maldives. This luxury island resort comprises 94 villas encircled by white sandy beaches, a stunning 360 degree house reef and a turquoise lagoon. With a unique combination of beach and lagoon accommodation, Dusit Thani Maldives provides an unmatched luxurious escape for all travellers.

The resort offers a 360 degree vibrant house reef compliment with a turquoise lagoon, a 750-square metre infinity swimming pool with a lush Banyan tree in the centre, five restaurants and bars with breathtaking views and a Kids Club that is committed to making children’s dreams come true.

The award-winning Devarana Spa at Dusit Thani Maldives encompasses six deluxe treatment pods, which sit elevated amongst the island’s palm trees. For those who prefer to keep their feet firmly on the ground, the spa has also developed two stunning ground level treatment rooms. Manicure and pedicure-dedicated area, private outdoor pool, steam and sauna are exclusively available for spa guests.

Maldives on Monday announced measures to help tourists affected by the collapse of British travel agent Thomas Cook, one of the leading tour operators to the Maldives.

In a joint statement, the Maldives’ tourism ministry, and the official tourism promotion body, Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), assured the best possible support for affected tourists on their return journey. All resort partners have been contacted to confirm the number of Thomas Cook travellers currently staying in the Maldives and to determine their return destination, they said.

“… the government will do everything in its power to ensure the well-being of the passengers affected,” tourism minister Ali Waheed was quoted in the statement, as saying.

The Maldivian authorities said the main Velana International Airport is operating as usual and measures have been put in place, including a dedicated help desk, to ease the situation for holidaymakers waiting to return home. Efforts will be made to provide food, assistance and accommodation, if required, they added.

“We’re very sorry to hear of the closure of Thomas Cook and it is our top priority to ensure that the return journey of all affected tourists will be as comfortable as possible,” Thoyyib Mohamed, Managing Director of MMPRC, said.

Thomas Cook’s 178-year existence of came to an end on Monday after the British travel firm failed to find private investment to keep it afloat, affecting thousands of holidaymakers.

The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is co-ordinating the repatriation, the biggest in peacetime, after the tour operator “ceased trading with immediate effect”.

Some 16,000 holidaymakers were booked to come back on Monday, and UK authorities hope to get at least 14,000 of them home on chartered flights.

The UK CAA — an arms-length body set up by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) — has chartered 45 jets to bring customers home from locations including Central America and Turkey. It will fly 64 routes on Monday in an undertaking called Operation Matterhorn.