TTM Periodical | Issue 003 | June 2019

Bi-Monthly Edition May - June 2019

www.traveltrademaldives.com ttm@traveltrademaldives.com / traveltrademaldives

ISSUE 003

International Travel Trade Periodical Published by Leading Travel Trade Show of Maldives - TTM

MOHAMED NIHAJ

GENERAL MANAGER AT RAHAA RESORT

MOHAMED MIRSAAD

MANAGING DIRECTOR AT TRAVEL CONNECTION

RASHEED ABDULLAH

DIRECTOR SALES & MARKETING AT SUN OCEAN PVT.LTD

IN THIS ISSUE : Statistics | Government | Market Overview | Aviation | Transport / Cruise | Travel tech | TTM | Travel Agents Accommodations | People | Interviews | Celebrity | Wellness | Food | ITB | Fair & Awards

02 FOREWARD & TEAM

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

OUR TEAM MANAGING DIRECTOR

Akhmeem Abdul Razzaq

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Dr. Hussain Sunny Umar

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Nashaath

DIRECTOR

Ibrahim Areef

Welcome to the third issue of “TTM

connects the travel trade community of the

Periodical”. TTM Periodical is a bi-monthly

Maldives to the global network of travel

magazine

Trade

professionals. This year, the multi-event

Maldives (TTM) - the leading and largest

travel trade show will include the TTM Travel

travel trade fair in the Maldives - which aims

Summit, TTM prescheduled meetings, TTM

to fill a gap that currently exists in marketing

Awards & Gala and Maldives Supplier Expo.

Maldives to the international audience.

As successful as TTM 2017 and TTM 2018

Estimated figures for 2023 indicate that

were, we at Orca Media Group have done

Maldives will achieve well over 50,000 in

everything to ensure TTM 2019 will be better

beds in operation and government target

and more rewarding for the participants in

of 2.5 million tourist arrivals annually. The

every aspect. All this would not have been

ongoing airport development projects at

possible without the incredible support of

Velana International Airport will ensure

our partners and industry stakeholders.

that the airport will be ready to cater to

Here’s wishing all the best and a successful

over 7 million passengers annually by 2023.

event for all participants of TTM 2020.

published

by

Travel

Since being launched in 2017, TTM 2019 is the 3rd edition of the show that effectively

DIRECTOR

Mohamed Khoorsheed

MANAGER

Ahmed Nasir

ASSISTANT MANAGER Fathmath Maisaan

PHOTOGRAPHY DYNAMYST

FOREWORD BY MINISTER OF TOURISM MR. ALI WAHEED

Haisham Ali

DESIGN DIRECTION CREATIVE TUNA Zaya Ahmed Moothi Zeina Shareef Hamdhoon W.

MARKETING

Ali Sageef Ibrahim Hawwa Sana Rashad Nadwa Mohamed Mufeed Mohamed Raaidh Saeedh

Copyright c 2019 Orca Media Group.All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited. Opinions expressed in the articles are of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or publishers. While the editors do their utmost to verify information published they do not accept responsibility for its absolute accuracy. Materials in this publication may not be reproduced, whether in part or in whole, without the consent of Orca Media Group.

Tourism in the Maldives since its inception had banked on the assets sun, sand and sea. No doubt these core marketable features

emphasized

and

promoted

Maldives as a tourist destination for over WEBSITE orcamedia.group

four decades. Today, in line with the vision of the new administration of His Excellency President Ibrahim Mohamed

PUBLISHED BY

Solih to spread the benefits of the industry evenly across the country, the Ministry of Tourism aims to diversify the current concept by focusing on the development of 5 major zones within the country as regional destinations and individual tourism products. This approach intends to explore the traits and attractions that are unique to each zone and foster a varied tourism product for the country. I believe that we have endless opportunities to diversify our tourism product. Most importantly, it is essential that we incorporate aspects such

as culture, sports and business with tourism

internal influences. Hence it is crucial that

to efficiently utilize the vast potential these

we remain proactive and prepared. We have

areas have to offer for the development

already officially launched the Water Safety

and diversification of our tourism industry.

Program this month. We also have more

This diversification will not only enhance

measures underway to make the Maldives

the impression of Destination Maldives, but

not only the most beautiful but also the

brings in added value to our vibrant sector.

safest tourist destination.

Further, this effort to promote and develop

This far in to the second quarter of 2019, we

our tourism product, also adheres to the

have a highly positive outlook towards the

principle of “leave no one behind” ushered

tourism industry in terms of tourist arrivals.

in by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

The records to date have shown noteworthy

Development Goals.

progress every month. The month of April

The Ministry targets to strengthen the

this year is the highlight with an incredible

regulatory

coming

36.3% growth rate compared to the same

years, as this will be the backbone that

period last year. This is the highest increase

will shape the industry resourcefully and

on this basis recorded within the past 13

guide it towards greater achievements in

years.

a steady progression. In this regard, I find

With

it imperative to note that we are working

aforementioned new policies and programs

towards ensuring the welfare of both the

that will diversify as well as secure the

human capital and environmental resources

industry, our earnest hope is to see the

employed in the industry, bearing in mind

number of tourists visiting our beautiful

the interest of the workforce and by

country continue to increase in the months

adopting an environmentally sustainable

ahead. We have the blessings of nature for

approach for development.

a robust tourism industry. Let us make our

Further to this, I strongly believe that the

world of tourism more inclusive, attractive

safety and security within the industry

and more unique! The stronger the vision,

must not be compromised or undermined.

the more success we achieve.

framework

in

the

In turn, this will be a prime focus of the Ministry for this year. The tourism industry of our country is highly vulnerable to the changes in perception that comes with increased risks for travel from external and

the

implementation

of

the

ROADSHOWS & FAIRS 03

MMPRC ROADSHOW & FAIR LIST 2019 JAN 19 JAN 27JAN

BOOT

AUG

WTM AFRICA 10 APR 12 APR

Dusseldorf, Germany

Cape Town, South Africa Capetown International Convention Centre, Convention Square, Cape town, South Africa

08 AUG 09 AUG

23 JAN 25 JAN

OTM, ONE WORLD MARKET

15 APR 17 APR

28 APR 01 MAY

EMITT, EAST MEDITERRANEAN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM & TRAVEL EXHIBITION

MAY

East Mediterranean International Travel & Tourism Exhibition, TUYAP International Exhibition Centre, Istanbul, Turkey

Riyadh, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai Coinciding with ATM

Milan, Italy

Berlin, Germany Messe Berlin GmbH, Messedamm 22, D-14055 Berlin, Germany

MITT, Moscow International Travel & Tourism Exhbiton Moscow, Russia Krasnaya Presnya Exhibition Complex, ZAO Expocentre, Moscow, Russia

05 APR 07 APR

JUNE 11 JUNE 13 JUNE

2, 4, 6 & 9 SEP

ITALY, ROADSHOW Rome & Milan

JAPAN, ROADSHOW Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya,

CHINA ROADSHOW

Fukuoka October ( should coincide with JATA 24- 27 oct)

Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou & Chengdu

06 SEP 08 SEP

24 JUN 28 JUN

INDIAN, ROADSHOW

MATTA

24 OCT 27 OCT

16 SEP 19 SEP

Tokyo Big Sight

NOV

GERMANY, ROADSHOW Dusseldorf,Frankfurt, Munich & Vienna

JATA, TOURISM EXPO JAPAN Osaka, Japan

Kuala Lampur, Malaysia

04 NOV 06 NOV

WTM, WORLD TRAVEL MARKET London, United Kingdom

21 SEP 24 SEP

Excel London, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London Docklands, E16 1XL, United Kingdom

WORLD ROUTES Adelaide, Australia

25 SEP 27 SEP

ABAV

7, 8 & 11 NOV

Sao Paulo, Brazil

TTM

01 SEP 04 SEP

Paris Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre, 75015 Paris, France

Manchester, Glasgow, Scotland, Coinciding with WTM

DEC

IFTM TOP RESA Paris, France

UK, ROADSHOW Dublin

Av. Olavo Fontoura, 1.209, Anhembi Parque, SP

Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Banglore, CHandigarh

03 DEC 06 DEC

INTERNATIONAL LUXURY TRAVEL MARKET (ILTM) Cannes, France

OCT

JULY NORDIC, ROADSHOW

09 OCT 11 OCT

Rimini, Italy

Stockholm

TTG Italia S.p.A - RIMINI FIERA -Via Emilia, 155 - 47900 Rimini, Italy

CHINA, ROADSHOW

MARINE DIVING FAIR

Guangzhou, Chendgdu, Beijing

16 OCT 18 OCT

ITB ASIA Singapore Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Tokoyo, Japan

USA, ROADSHOW Miami, New York, Chicago, Toronto

Palais des Festivals et des Congres, Boulevard de la Croisette, 06403 Cannes, Cedex, France

TTG TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

Helsinki, Copenhagen, Oslo,

APR Sunshine City Convention Center Hall, Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Japan

14 OCT 15 OCT

SEP

Male’ , Maldives

MAR ITB

& Kiev

Coinciding with Germany RS

BIT Fiera Milano SpA, P.Iva C.F. 13194800150, S.S. Sempione 28 – 20017 RHO (MI), Milan, Italy

Saint-Petersburg, Moscow,Minsk

Warsaw, Prague, Budapest

MIDDLE EAST & GCC, ROADSHOW

FEB

12 MAR 14 MAR

ATM, ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Istanbul, Turkey

06 MAR 10 MAR

COTTM, CHINA OUTBOUND TRAVEL & TOURISM MARKET

RUSSIA ROADSHOW

Dubai, UAE

Messe Zürich, Switzerland

10 FEB 12 FEB

EASTERN EUROPE, ROADSHOW

(New Hall) National Agricultural Exhibition Center, Beijing, China

Zurich, Switzerland

31 JAN 03 FEB

10 OCT 14 OCT

Beijing, China

Parque Ferial Juan Carlos 1, 28042 Madrid, Apdo. De Correos 67.067, Spain

FESPO

SWISS, ROADSHOW

Coinciding with IFTM Top Resa

Basel Zurich & Geneva

Coinciding with WTM Africa

Madrid, Spain

31 JAN 03 FEB

Chengdu

Durban

Bombay Convention and Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, India

FITUR INTERNATIONAL TOURISM TRADE FAIR

19 AUG 21 AUG

FRANCE, ROADSHOW Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou &

Seoul, Busan

Cape Town, Johannesburg,

Mumbai, India

23 JAN 27 JAN

7, 8 & 10 OCT

SOUTH KOREA, ROADSHOW

Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre, Düsseldorf, Germany

SOUTH AFRICA, ROADSHOW

B2B B2C Dive Trade

ASEAN, ROADSHOW Singapore, Bangkok, KL, Taipei Coinciding with ITB Asia

TBC AUSTRALIA, ROADSHOW Sydney,Melbourne, Brisbane

04 STATISTICS

MALDIVES CHOSEN AS SECOND MOST POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION AMONG UK TOURISTS

Maldives has been listed as the second most popular

perfect for a budget vacation. Due to this the number

tourist destination among the tourists of United

of tourists who choose Maldives as their destination

Kingdom (UK) as per statistics shown by HomeToGo,

increasing according to the website. The vibrant coral

an online website to discover potential destinations to

reefs and aquatic life and the beaches of the Madives

make travels to.

are the reasons why tourists wants to visit Maldives as

Bora Bora, the small island archipelagos south to

per HomeToGo.

Pacific Ocean, was listed as the number one destination

Some of the popular destinations apart from Maldives

among the tourists of UK. Although Maldives is known

among the tourists of England include Madagascar

to be an expensive, luxury tourist destination, the

and Zimbabwe, . England is one of the countries from

site also promoted Maldives as a destination which

where the most number of tourists visit Maldives.

11 - 13 JUNE 2019 T H I R D

T I T L E P A RT N E R

AIRLINE PARTNERS

Y E A R

GOLD PAR TNE R S

PREMIUM EXHIBITORS

ORGANI SER

E N D O RS IN G P A RT N E RS

ATP

M ald ives Assoc iation of Tourism Professionals

GOVERMENT 05

30-DAY VISA EXEMPTION FOR MALDIVIAN TOURISTS IN THAILAND

Maldives is eligible for a 30-day visa

Thailand and Foreign Minister of Maldives,

exemption at Thailand. The validation

Mr. Abdulla Shahid

began from 14th April 2019, announced

Thailand is not the only country Maldivians

The Royal Thai Embassy to the Ministry of

received visa exemption from. Maldivians

Foreign Affairs.

can also visit United Arab Emirates (UAE)

All holders of valid passports or travel

for 30 days without a visa. In addition, they

documents issued by Maldives are eligible

can also stay at India for 90 days visa-free

for visa exemption when entering Thailand

if their visiting purposes were either for

for tourism purposes. The decision was

business or for touristic purposes.

made in a meeting with a delegation of

MALDIVES NOMINATED FOR 7 PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS AT THE WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS 2019 Maldives has been nominated for 7

in the Travel and Tourism Industry. It is

prestigious awards at the World Travel

also renowned as the “Oscars of the Travel

Awards 2019. Maldives is nominated for,

Industry.” Today, the World Travel Awards™

Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination

brand is recognized globally as the ultimate

2019, Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise

hallmark of quality, with winners setting the

Destination 2019, Indian Ocean’s Leading

benchmark to which all others aspire.

Destination 2019, Indian Ocean’s Leading

Maldives had won prestigious positions

Dive Destination 2019, Indian Ocean’s

in various categories over the years. This

Leading Green Destination 2019, Indian

year’s nominations are yet again another

Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination

positivity for the Maldives as a tourist

2019 and Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist

destination. Being a winner of most awards

Board 2019.

in the most prestigious categories in the

World travel awards are well-known as the

past has truly bench marked the destination

highest and most exclusive award ceremony

profiling at the highest level.

06 GOVERNMENT

MMPRC INVITES INDIAN JOURNALISTS AND BLOGGERS TO PROMOTE MALDIVES A team of Indian journalists and bloggers

trip will start at Guraidhoo Palm Inn, where

Pioneer Group, an English language daily

experience in Maldives.

arrived in Maldives on a familiarization

they will experience the local way of life

newspaper and Outlook Traveller, India’s

This is the first of a series of FAM trips that

trip organized by Maldives Marketing and

by sightseeing the island and experiencing

First and largest circulated monthly travel

are being planned by MMPRC for this year

Public Relations Corporation. They are

the local cusines of Maldives. MMPRC

magazine. Bloggers in the team include

in order to promote Maldives. These trips

expected to visit local islands and resorts

will also give a destination presentation to

Snigdha Bhowmick from “Salt and Sandals”

are an integral part of MMPRC’s marketing

from 15th April 2019 till 20th April 2019

the group to share information regarding

which is a luxury travel, food & beverage

strategy to relate the stories of Maldives to

to experience off the beaten track activities

the Maldivian tourism industry to further

blog, Archana Singh from “Travel See

the world by inviting various media from

available in Maldives.

promote Maldives. The team will then travel

Write” travel blog, Pallavi Chaturvedi

across the globe to experience Maldives first

The main purpose of this trip is to promote

to Adaaran Rannalhi and Adaaran Select

from “That Desi Girl” Blog, and Nivi

hand.

Maldives as a tourist destination via blog

Hudhuranfushi where they will experience

Shrivastava, a freelance journalist with

posts and articles. The team will explore the

life at a resort and sunset excursion on a

Deccan Chronical and Asian age. They will

undiscovered side of Maldives, which is the

cruise.

be posting dedicated social media posts

local island life and Maldivian culture. Their

The team comprise of writers from

with destination articles that feature their

MMPRC REQUESTS FOR COMPANY NAME CHANGE Maldives Marketing and Public Relations

the company has been spoiled due to the

Corporation (MMPRC) has requested for

corruption issues which is disadvantageous

a change in their name to the President’s

in their line of work.

Office as per the Managing Director of

Due to the aforementioned reason, MMPRC

MMPRC, Mr. Thoyyib Mohamed.

is requesting for a change in their name.

In a press conference held by MMPRC,

Multiple names have been sent in to the

they explained the reason that they are

President’s office for approval as per Mr.

requesting for a change in the name of the

Thoyyib.

company. They clarified that the name of

GOVERMENT 07

MATI HOSTS SESSION FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN HOSPITALITY

The Maldives Association of Tourism

The panel included:

Industry (MATI), in collaboration with the

1.Mr. Hussain Afeef (Vice-President, MATI)

Maldives National University (MNU) held

2.Mr. Salah Shihab (Vice-President, MATI)

a discussion session targeted at collegiate

3.Mr. Ahmed Nazeer (Secretary General,

level students from all disciplines, with the

MATI)

aim of inspiring them to use the Tourism /

4.Mr.

Hospitality industry as a stepping stone to

Member, MATI)

achieving their dreams and aspirations.

5.Ms. Zulaikha Manik (Executive Board

The session included a keynote address

Member, MATI)

by

(President,

The session was held on the 20th of April

Maldives Association of Human Resource

2019, at the CA Auditorium, MNU from

Professionals) as well as a panel discussion

1600 hours – 1730 hours.

Mr.

Afeef

Hussain

Iyaz

Waheed

(Executive

Board

and Q&A session including senior Executive Board Members of MATI.

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08 GOVERNMENT

OPERATIONAL PERMITS ISSUED TO 10 RESORTS AND 40 GUESTHOUSES Within the span of three month reign of

resort segment with the addition of 640

the current government, the Ministry of

beds into the guesthouse sector as per

Tourism has issued operational permits

Mr. Ali Waheed. 11 dive centers and 22

to 10 resorts and 40 guesthouses as per

travel agencies were also given operational

Minister of Tourism, Honorable Ali Waheed.

permits within this duration, he further

In a press conference held at the Ministry

added.

on 9th April, the Minister explained that

The current government has stated that

with the additional 10 resorts given the

they will be opening 30 resorts in the year

operational permits, the total number of

2019, therefore changing the total bed

resorts now equal to 141.

count in Maldives to 50,000.

With only three months into the reign, 1410 beds have been added into the

MARKET OVERVIEW 09

MARKET OVERVIEW - EUROPE

Europe has been one of the top tourist

Europe plays a vital role in the economic

year 2016. The UK, Germany, France and

rise, according to Statista, only 26% of the

arrival regions to Maldives for decades.

impact of the global travel industry.

Italy, which are well known as among the

population indulges in outbound tourism

More than 726,420 tourists arrived from

The European Union is among the most

world’s top 10 largest outbound tourism

as of 2017, however spending a staggering

Europe to Maldives in 2018 which was a

developed areas in the world with the

markets, are all located in the European

450 billion Euros (504 billion Dollars)

12.4% increase compared to 2017. Europe

world’s strongest economy. With well over

Union, making it one of the most important

on outbound tourism and is predicted to

contributes to 48.9% of the tourists who

740 million people from more than 50

consumers for many international hotelier

increase in value over the next 10 years, as

arrived to Maldives in 2018. Tourists from

different country unified under the same

brands and travel agencies.

in 2018, the outbound travel expenditure

Western European countries took up the

currency, it has about $20 trillion in GDP

Out of the total 1.2 billion trips made by

was approximated at 507 billion Euros (568

list of the most visited to Maldives. Over

with an average of $27,730 as GDP per

European travelers, approximately 42% of

billion Dollars) and is projected to rise to

242,720 tourists from Western European

capita. Currently ranking 3rd in GDP per

all trips spend 25% of their 6 billion nights

615 billion Euros (689 billion Dollars) in

countries visited in 2018, following

capita globally compared, it has seen an

out of their country. While this figure is

2028.

southern Europe with over 157,980

GDP rise by 2.5% per annum since 2017.

still low, it is highly possible that with the

While looking at individual tourist markets

tourist arrivals to Maldives. Germany,

Europe is currently the world’s largest

growth of overall income to the area, the

of Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy

France, UK, Italy and Russia are the most

source of outbound tourism, with well over

number of nights and trips outside of the

and Russia are the most dominant tourist

dominant individual tourist markets to

618 million tourists arriving at destinations

European Union will drastically increase

markets to the Maldives in the recent years.

the Maldives in the recent years.

globally from Europe. This figure accounts

from the projection of the next 4 years.

for almost 50% of the world’s tourists in the

Even though the overall market is on the

CORPORATE MALDIVES ACADEMY PRESENTS

WORLD’S LEADING QUALIFICATIONS IN MARKETING

10 MARKET OVERVIEW GERMANY

Within the span of three month reign of

resort segment with the addition of 640

the current government, the Ministry of

beds into the guesthouse sector as per

Tourism has issued operational permits

Mr. Ali Waheed. 11 dive centers and 22

to 10 resorts and 40 guesthouses as per

travel agencies were also given operational

Minister of Tourism, Honorable Ali Waheed.

permits within this duration, he further

In a press conference held at the Ministry

added.

on 9th April, the Minister explained that

The current government has stated that

with the additional 10 resorts given the

they will be opening 30 resorts in the year

operational permits, the total number of

2019, therefore changing the total bed

resorts now equal to 141.

count in Maldives to 50,000.

With only three months into the reign, 1410 beds have been added into the

UNITED KINGDOM

FRANCE

France occupies 8% of all outbound nights

tourism is more expensive compared to

spent by visitors in European region and

2016.

they spend 200 million nights with an

Looking at French visitors to Maldives, in

average 4 night per person in 2018. With

2018, more than 50,476 tourists arrived

a rise of spending of travel by 11% in 2018

from France to Maldives and which was

compared to 2017, they currently spend

19.1% increase compare to the previous

34.6 billion Euros. While 31 million people,

year. France contributes 3.4 % of the

59% of the population are involved in

tourists arrived to the Maldives in 2018.

tourism form the country, they cover 8% of

According to the ministry of tourism, in

the whole European market. While tourism

the first quarter of 2019 French market is

is their second most important spending

ranked as the 6th highest visitor arriving

priority with 45% of the voter voting for

market as it covers 5.5% of the total arrivals

it. While average spending per person has

in Maldives. With 26,692 visitors arriving

increased by 1%, trip frequency of French

in the first quarter of 2019, this is a rise in

travellers has increased by 4.3%. However,

28% of arrivals compared to the first three

more French non-travellers believe that

months of 2018.

UK along with Germany accounted for

by 3.7% compared to 2018.

50.7% of the nights spend by visitors of EU,

In 2018, More than 114,600 British tourists

as UK alone contributed 564 million nights

visited Maldives, compared to almost

to the world tourism. With their expenses

104,000 in 2017. In December 2018 alone

on travel and tourism increased by 8%

10,800 tourists arrived from UK. This is

compared to 2017, it is now at 57.2 billion

an 11% increase, compared to the same

Euros. As UK tourists account for 23% of

period in 2017. The UK is the second

the whole European market and with 33

largest European inbound market with the

million people, 60% of their population

7.7% of total arrivals to the Maldives in

involved in outbound tourism, they are in

2018. It was the third largest global market

fact one of the largest markets in the world.

to the Maldives in 2018. While UK visitors

In the Phocus Wright discretion spending

accounted for 7.5% of all the visitors to

priority survey, travel was voted as the most

arrive to Maldives in the first quarter of

important spending priority with 50% of

2019, this is 36,116 of visitors within the

voters voting for tourism. However, while

first three months. Moreover, this is a 10.7%

the spending per person has gone down

rise of arrivals from the UK compared to

1.3% in 2018 compared to 2017, the trip

the first quarter of 2018. UK is ranked 4th

frequency in tourists from UK has gone up

on the arrival list as of March 2019.

MARKET OVERVIEW 11 ITALY

The Italian market is one of the world’s

to the ministry of tourism – tourism

major tourism markets, however, with 75

monthly statistical report, Italy currently

million nights spent, this accounts for 3% of

ranks number 2 in the arrivals list to the

the total nights spent by EU tourists. With

Maldives covering 10.9% of the Maldivian

28 million people, which is the country’s

arrivals. With 52,484 visitors, Italy showed

46% of population, this accounts for 4% of

an increase by 27.4% in arrivals to the

all the tourism from the European Union.

Maldives in the first quarter of 2019.

In 2018, more than 105,297 tourists arrived from Italy to Maldives and which was 18.5 % increase compare to the previous year.

Italy contributes 7.1 % of the tourists arrived to the Maldives in 2018. According

RUSSIAN FEDERATION Russia spent 275 million nights making it

March 2018 as 269,619 visitors arrived in

one of the largest markets in the world in

Maldives from this region. In the month of

terms of tourism. With 27.8 million Euros

March alone, there were more than 90,000

spent in 2017, there was a rise in spending

visitors from the European region. For

drastically by 26% in 2018. While 44

European visitors, peak booking demand

million visitors are involved in travel and

is usually from June till December with the

tourism, this accounts for 30% of Russia’s

peak period in December to January and

population and 4% of the whole European

average duration of stay was 7-10 nights.

market.

Among visitors who stayed in resorts,

In 2018, more than 70,935 tourists arrived

German visitors sated the longest with an

from Russia to Maldives and which was

average duration of stay of nine nights

14.5 % increase compare to the previous

Maldives is a popular tourist destination

year. Russian market contributes 4.8 %

among European tourists. Maldives Visitor

of the tourists arrived to the Maldives in

Survey (MVS) indicated that rest and

2018.According to the ministry of tourism,

relaxation is the main reason why European

in the first quarter of 2019, Russia covered

tourists visit Maldives. Among the European

5.4% of all arrivals in the Maldives with a

tourists rest and relaxation is main purpose

rise in 7.7% of visitors compared to the first

of visit to the Maldives for Italian (60%),

quarter of 2018 as 26,284 visitors arrived

Swiss (59%), British (59%), German (58%),

in Maldives from Russia within the first

and French (55%) visitors in 2017.Apart

three months of 2019. Russia is currently

from rest and relaxation, honeymoon is

the 7th biggest market for the Maldives as

also a significant reason for Europeans to

per March 2019.

visit Maldives. Besides, the quality of the beaches and privacy are also significant

The first quarter of 2019 showed an

factors that motivate European tourists to

occupancy rate of average 75.2% which

visit Maldives. Moreover, 87% of the tourist

is a 0.6% rise compared to last year with

from Europe stayed in resorts in 2017.

visitors spending an average 6.2 night per

Within the European tourists, guesthouses

visitor which is a 0.3% decrease compared

appear to be particularly popular among

to 2018. Looking at the arrivals in Maldives

Russian (30%) and Italian (28%) visitors.

for the first 3 months of 2019, the greatest

About 14% of the Italian tourists who

number of visitors arrived from European

visited to Maldives stayed in a boat or safari

Union countries with a 55.8% of visitors.

in 2017.

This is a 13% increase comparative to

12 PEOPLE out and ended up staying there. However,

logistics of passengers and cargo being on

I didn’t stay too long at Angaga as I shifted

a remote island specially on wet weather

to F&B of Huvafenfushi. I started from the

conditions. Sea planes would be delayed

very bottom as a Waiter, moving on to F&B

or were not able to fly during bad weather

Captain and to a Restaurant in Charge.

and in some instances they would land to a nearby resort where the sea conditions

Then, I decided to shift my area and applied

are favorable for them to land. It could

for the position of a butler who would be

be stressful to handle the guests in these

designated for the special pavilions in the

circumstances.

resort. And so, I changed to a butler and

What was the biggest success that celebrities who visited Maldives then. I you achieved? got the chance to interact with the top

got promoted from Head Butler to Guest Relations

Manager

and

Front

Office

I have achieved a lot of successful feats in my life. However, the biggest one I

Manager.

always am proud of is the opening of Velaa After Huvafenfushi, I then moved to Velaa

as I worked on it both personally and

Private Island as the Resident Manager

professionally. I approached many wealthy

and filled in the position of General

businessmen trying to purchase an island

Manager upon the absence of the then

for the resort and finally settled on one

General Manager. After that, I went to

after receiving many proposals. I was also

Switzerland to study at BHMS and finished

there during the construction of the resort

my Postgraduate Diploma and Masters

and the pre-opening. Velaa opened after so

there. When University ended, I decided to

much of my hard work and dedication and

gain some overseas experience and hence,

I am always proud of the fact that I worked

worked at Baltschug Kempinski in Russia.

so hard on it.

I worked for three months there before coming back to Velaa as the Resident

MOHAMED NIHAJ

Manager once more and then being

What would you like to say to aspiring young hoteliers?

promoted to the owner’s representative.

GENERAL MANAGER AT RAHAA RESORT

One of the most important messages I

What made you move to Rahaa have learnt is working hard. Do not take from Velaa? working hard in just a physical manner.

Could you please give us an introduction on how your professional life began?

on the industry and did stewarding and F&B trainings along with it.

You also need to work smart. Have interest After having worked in Velaa as an RM, I

and passion in what you do so that you are

had gained so much experiences due to

able to do what you do with love. If you do

apprenticeship

working on so many projects. I finally felt

not love what you do, you are not going to

My professional life began while I was

program within one year I joined Bandos as

like I was ready to take on the position of

be able to do it well. I have always applied

studying A’level in CHSE. While studying,

a F&B attendant but didn’t work very long

General Manager of a resort. Along with

these virtues in my work and I believe that

I was also simultaneously working as a

there. As I was facing difficulties in adjusting

the fact that I felt ready, I also wanted to

today, they are what makes me what I am.

laboratory

finishing

to the work style in Bandos after working

challenge myself as Rahaa is a stand-

CHSE, I decided to join the Four Seasons

in Four Seasons, I decided it was time to

alone property and it proved to be a very

Apprenticeship program which became

move on.

challenging opening. As the resort was

After

technician.

Upon

completing

the

in a secluded location, I willed to make it

the gateway for me to enter the tourism industry.

After I resigned from Bandos I went back

successful.

to my island. Not too long after, a friend of At Four Seasons, I had to begin working from

mine from Angaga Resorts called me asking

scratch as someone who was absolutely

for my help. He explained that it was the

new to the industry. I attended theory

festive season and that he needed my help.

classes in order to gain more understanding

Having agreed, I went there to help him

What was the biggest challenge that you faced?

The hardest challenge I faced was the

RAS ERP PRODUCTS

RAS HRMS

RAS POS

RAS BUTLER

RAS ECOMMERCE

RAS TRANSPORT

RAS LO G IS TI CS

PEOPLE 13 back in the days as foreign agents were

to their nature, it sometimes become an

more preferable to resorts and other

issue when dealing with tourists from the

tourism facilities. Due to this, we had a lot

Middle Eastern market.

of difficulty in obtaining suitable rates. They would tell us to get them 150-500 room nights. It might be easy to say this but it is definitely not easy getting that much room

What do Middle Eastern tourists look for when visiting Maldives?

nights. However, due to them not taking our investments and time seriously enough,

One of the most important aspects to Middle

we attended multiple roadshows and fairs

Eastern tourists is privacy. Whichever

abroad, scoring foreign agents and more,

reason that they visit for, they would want

until such time that the resorts were forced

to stay at a secluded and private resort to

to come to terms with the fact that we are

fully enjoy their holiday. They also have a

seriously investing in the industry to get

tendency to go for places with pools. So, it

markets.

is safe to say that a Middle Eastern tourist would lean towards a private overwater/

While speaking of challenges we should also talk about your successes. Which are your most notable ones?

beach villa which has its own pool and is secluded from the rest of the island. They also have a tendency to go for trustworthy and well-known brands such as Four Seasons, One & Only, Jumeirah and other

One of the most notable success we as

renowned brands.

a company have achieved is going from a meager count of 2 staff to employing 20+ staff in the agency. This is a great improvement when compared to the time

What are the most common types of tourists who arrive in Maldives from the Middle East?

we began the work of our company. Another

MOHAMED MIRSAAD

MANAGING DIRECTOR AT TRAVEL CONNECTION Could you begin with a brief introduction about yourself?

One & Only Reethi Rah. After that, in 2013, I finally decided that I had gained enough experience to run my own agency and

I have always been working in the hospitality industry even before the idea to create a travel agency came to me. I worked in various posts in resorts and I even worked in the airport, which if not directly is also related to tourism industry.

The resorts I worked in are Kanuhuraa and

created Travel Connections Maldives.

notable challenge is us having widened our

There are several types of tourists who come

reach. We now have three offices. One is

to Maldives from the Middle East. The most

the local office in Maldives with the other

common type would be honeymooners,

two in Sri Lanka and our newest one, in

as is the case of many other markets, as

China. I believe that within 6 years, this can

Maldives is now a premium honeymoon

be considered a great feat and I’m utterly

destination. Maldives is a dream to many

proud of that.

couples and this is no different to Middle

Your main market is the Middle East. What issues do you face when dealing with this market?

Easterners who tend to lean towards more mainstream brands. Others are the travelers who come to relax and spend a luxurious holiday. There are also the families, who

As with the others, I believe the biggest

come to spend a holiday together and bond

issue is that our rates collide with OTA’s

with each other to make up for the inability

from the Middle East. Sometimes, due to

to connect due to their busy lives.

some issues you are unable to see the rates submitted by resorts in the Maldives and due to this, we find it very difficult to retain

What was the biggest challenge some bookings. I think it is safe to say that that you faced while running this Middle Eastern tourists are impatient on agency? some terms and having to deal with resorts, It is never easy running a travel agency

trying to get them suitable rates, could result in us losing the booking as well. Due

The leading premium training institute registered in the Maldives, offering a comprehensive range of education, training and consultancy services. WIth extensive network of global training providers, experts and local trainers CMA is confident in delivering customized services. Our motto “excellence, n othing less” is meant to serve as an inspiration to clients ranging from start-ups to large corporate entities

14 PEOPLE pinpoint what are the greatest ones. Even

online booking as we were not that big of

so, I would like to highlight how we were

a company. However, with the increase

able to grow out of our original work which

in online systems, things have become

was crew accommodation, to being a travel

more competitive. When resorts have low

agency in 2011. After that, newer areas of

booking rates, they post on OTA’s such as

business have sprouted from our company,

Booking.com, Expedia and Agoda in order

which is also something to be proud of in

to attract potential tourists. This becomes

my opinion.

a major challenge for us as a local travel agency. In order to make our business more

RASHEED ABDULLAH

DIRECTOR SALES & MARKETING AT SUN OCEAN PVT. LTD.

As you focus mainly on the Italian Market, can you tell us why most Italians travel to Maldives? Also, how has the market changed over the years?

How many foreign tour operators are you working with currently?

There are two main reasons as to why Italian

We have foreign operators from all around

travelers visit Maldives. These reasons are

the world. I believe the total would be

for both family vacation and honeymoon.

around 150. Our main operators are from

In the past, we witnessed a time where

either Italy, Eastern Europe, and Nordic

the Italian financial crisis caused a major

countries. These countries are followed

setback on the market which cause a rise

by the Middle East along with their GCC

followed by a drop in the arrival numbers.

countries. We also have tour operators

Fortunately, in the past 2 years, the market

from markets such as India and other

seems to be on the rise. In order to increase

countries throughout Asia such as Malaysia

the current numbers, we need to increase

and even Singapore.

we should do, the tourist arrivals would now, we have always treated the Italian market as our number one priority in the past and even now so as well. I think the My I have been working in the tourism

reason why we lean towards Italian market

industry for about 30 or so years. Unlike

is because I have a history with Italians,

many others in the industry, I mark my

having worked in their company. Along with

beginning in the industry by working at

that, we also have Italian staff and we are

tourist souvenir shops. I then moved on

also able to converse in the Italian language

to an Italian company which sparked my

which helps when dealing with Italians who

interest in the Italian market. In 2004, after

arrive in Maldives.

the discontinuation of the company we

Honestly, the future is the European

What is your opinion regarding direct flights from Italy and how would it affect the market share in Maldives?

parity. A lot of resorts have their own rate

company, its foreign employees told us

parity which makes the role of the local

to look for an alternative work. While

DMC’s even more insignificant than it used

looking for something to do, we met with

to be. Moreover, resorts would rather

the people who sent crew accommodation

wish to work directly with foreign agents

to Bodu Hithi and were looking for a new

which once again, puts local DMC’s at a

partner in Male. When they asked us for a

disadvantage. Even though some resorts

favour it gave us the idea to start our own

do choose local DMC’s, many lean towards

difficult. We began from level zero and put in numerous efforts to finally get here.

Which market do you mainly set your focus on?

currently number 1 and other Asian markets are on the rise, it is a known fact that the Chinese tourists are not fixated on one destination and travel to many different

Currently there is only 1 direct flight from

countries. However, looking at the current

Italy which is namely, Air Italia. Though

demographics and its potential, I would like

there are not enough flight connections

to believe that the European market will

from Italy to Maldives, I would like to believe

overtake China in the future.

Speaking of challenges, what are your greatest successes?

There have been many little successes here when we began. Due to this, it is difficult to

What advice would you like to give to aspiring young hoteliers?

The most important advice I would like to give is to work as honestly as possible.

their operations to Maldives in the coming

Work hard to achieve as many milestones

winter. In my opinion, this shows that the

as possible. It is also not uncommon

market is growing and that the market

knowledge that many people have the wrong

has proved to be worthy to be invested in.

idea about the hospitality industry. Try to

When the additional flights commence, the

be the person who changes their mentality

numbers are sure to increase in the future.

on the industry with your honest and hard work. I have worked in this industry for over

As a company that started off 15 years ago, in terms of operation, foreign agents, which makes our work more what are the major changes that challenging. you have seen?

and there as we have come a long way from Even though we work with several markets

market. Even though China market is

that the arrival numbers compliment the

Due to the circumstance of my then

off a small capital which proved to be really

What do you think will be the main market for Maldives in the future?

increase in the future.

When focusing on the Italian flight connections available to Italian market, what are the main company which is Sun Oceans Pvt Ltd. tourists well. It is also to be noted that challenges you face in bring them arrivals are also increasing due to the use What led you to start a travel here to Maldives? of scheduled flights. Moreover, Alitalia and agency and how was it like at the Air Italy are also planning on commencing The biggest challenge that we face is rate start? were working in, I decided to start my own

crew accommodation company. We started

services more accessible online.

marketing efforts made in Italy. I believe that once we market Maldives as much as

How did you start off in the tourism industry?

successful we need to work on making our

Automation has taken over the travel industry. Customers rely more on online platforms than the traditional booking process we are used to. Earlier we did not

have

many

challenges

regarding

30 years and always tried to instill these values in my work. I believe that is what has gotten me to where I am.

PEOPLE 15

MOHAMED AHMED ‘MAX’ DIDI APPOINTED AS THE REVENUE AND RESERVATIONS MANAGER AT VAKKARU MALDIVES Mohamed Ahmed ‘Max’ Didi has been

comfortable working independently and as

appointed as the Revenue and Reservations

an integrated team member.

Manager at Vakkaru Maldives. He has

Max started his career in the tourism

been working in the hospitality industry

industry at White Sands Resort and Spa now

for over 16+ years. He is a self-motivated

knows as LUX* Maldives. He was working

tourism professional, with a strong and

as an Assistant Reservations Manager

diverse background in Online Distribution,

for almost 5 years and then moved to

Revenue Management, Sales, Contracting

Paradise Holidays PVT LTD as the Sales and

and Administration.

Reservations Manager. After 1.5+ years he

The hard-working, detail-oriented quick

joined Centara Hotels and Resorts as the

learner Max, previously was working at

Central Reservations Manager in Maldives.

Fushifaru Maldives. He is is a coach, a

He worked there for 7+ years until he joined

mentor, and a motivator to his team and is

Fushifaru Maldives in August 2017.

RAHUL MALHOTRA APPOINTED AS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AT WALDORF ASTORIA HOTELS & RESORTS Rahul Malhotra has been appointed as the

at Golden Opportunities Pvt Ltd and Guest

Business Development Manager at Waldorf

Service Assistant at Park Sheraton and

Astoria Hotels & Resorts. Before this post,

Towers.

he worked as the Reservations Manager at

He has a Diploma in Hotel Management from

One & Only Reethi Rah, Maldives.

IHM Tharamani, Chennai and a Bachelor’s

In addition to being the Reservations

Degree in Business Administration at

Manager at One & Only Reethi Rah, he

University of Madras, Chennai. He is skilled

also worked at Hideaway Beach Maldives

in Yield Management, Hotel Management

Resort & Spa as a Senior Sales, Reservation

and Hospitality.

and Revenue Manager. He also filled the Reservation and Revenue Manager post at Cheval Blanc Randheli, the position of Reservation Manager at One & Only Reethi Rah, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Assistant Reservation Manager at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Trainer in Hotel Operations

16 PEOPLE

THE CASE FOR SCRAPPING SINGLEUSE PLASTICS IN MALDIVIAN RESORTS BY SONU SHIVDASANI The Maldives is awash with plastic. Plastic

compete with one another to serve different

received no push-back from our guests.

whose purpose was to encourage hotels

bottles litter the beaches, plastic bags get

types of branded water — often served in

It surprises me that luxury hotels still

to serve water bottled on site, but I was

caught up in coral reefs, bits of plastic even

plastic bottles. It is amazing they still do

compete with branded toiletries. We have

disappointed that more resorts did not sign

make their way into the stomachs of whale

this, when the discerning luxury traveler

never used branded toiletries in any of our

up. Hotel companies always have so many

sharks. Every year, there is more and more

knows all too well the impact that single-

resorts. We have always had our in-room

excuses for not getting rid of single-use

plastic litter. And every year, more and

use plastics cause.

amenities, such as shampoo and shower

plastics.

more people complain that the country’s

My wife Eva and I opened Soneva Fushi,

gel, delivered in large 5-gallon tubs that are

Fortunately, today, things are starting to

beauty is being ruined by plastic pollution.

in the Baa Atoll, in 1995. Since 2008, we

used to fill ceramic bottles that are refilled

change. We see more and more resorts

Some of the biggest culprits in this eco-

have never served water in plastic bottles.

when empty.

across the Maldives scrapping single-use

crime are resorts, whose consumption of

Period. We use reusable glass bottles, filled

Our experience with banning single-use

plastics and, for example, bottling their

single-use plastics is often far higher than

with water made at the island’s reverse-

plastic items has yielded many benefits. We

own water on site in reusable glass bottles.

that of local islands. Resorts are required

osmosis plant. (Very occasionally, a guest

earn around US$ 90,000 per year selling

This is welcome news. But I fear that many

by law to crush their waste and send it for

asks for branded water, which we will go

our own bottled water to guests (we donate

resorts will resist change – especially some

“safe” disposal, often to Thilafushi. But

and purchase at a neighboring resort. But

this entire sum to water charities). And

of the big, luxury brands.

frequently, it seems that the garbage never

this happens rarely).

banning branded water has not affected

To really grapple with plastic pollution in

makes it there. Instead, it blows off the

The same is true of Soneva Jani, which

our bottom line. Our RevPAR (average rate

the Maldives, the new government should

back of dhonis, or is dumped in the sea

opened in the Noonu Atoll in 2016.

multiplied by occupancy) at Soneva Jani

consider an outright ban on single-use

while nobody is watching.

In almost 25 years operating resorts

is often the highest in the Maldives, and

plastics. I cannot see the tourism industry

Even the plastic waste that does make it to

worldwide, I cannot recall a single guest

probably one of the highest of any hotel in

changing on its own. Once people are

Thilafushi is burned in a giant, toxic bonfire.

ever complaining that their water was

the world. I believe that a company must

pushed to change, though, often they

Huge plumes of poisonous smoke can often

served in a glass bottle. Instead, guests

have a purpose beyond paying employees

realize things are better and it simplifies

be seen wafting over Male’. Goodness

are happy they are not contributing to the

salaries and shareholders dividends. I

their operations. It tends to be win-win all

knows the damage it is doing to children’s

plastic problem, and they like the beautiful

believe that our SLOWLIFE Core Purpose

around.

lungs.

ceramic tops on our glass bottles, and the

is one that rings true to both our hosts and

Resorts cannot keep polluting this beautiful

There is, however, hope that we can turn

elegantly designed jugs, in which we serve

guests alike. Reducing our use of plastics

country with plastics. We cannot keep

the tide on plastics. The most effective

drinking water.

reinforces this Core Purpose; thus making

shrugging our shoulders in apathy when

solution is at source: discontinuing the use

Resorts can also remove other single-

the brand more valuable.

visitors complain about plastic litter on

of plastics. Resorts must play a leading

use plastics from their supply chains. At

Over the years, I have tried to persuade the

the beaches, thundis, or coral reefs. For

role and phase out the use of single-use

Soneva, we have used paper, wood and

hospitality industry to follow some of our

tourism to keep flourishing, we must put an

plastic bottles, bags and other items. I

bamboo straws since we started. We have

sustainability examples. I co-founded and

end to the scourge of single-use plastics.

find it remarkable that in 2019, hotels still

never used plastic straws. Again, we have

chaired the Whole World Water charity,

PEOPLE 17

INCREDIBLE LOCAL TALENTS RECRUITED BY WALDORF ASTORIA MALDIVES ITHAAFUSHI Waldorf Astoria has recruited two of the

Nazim Mohamed has over 20+ years

most experienced hospitality professionals

of experience working in the Maldivian

in Maldives, Nasrulla Adam, and Nazim

hospitality

Mohamed, as Director of Sales and Front

he worked as a Front Office Manager

Office Manager respectively.

at Anantara Hotels, Resorts, and Spa;

Nasrulla Adam has been working in the

Kanuhura Maldives; Vakkaru Maldives; and

tourism industry for over 16+ years. He

Marriott International.

holds an Honours Degree in Hospitality and

His first job in the tourism industry was as

Tourism Management from the Birmingham

a Front Desk Agent at Lily Beach Resort

College of Food-Tourism-Creative Studies.

and Spa. Surprisingly, he took a break

He is one of the most well-known and

from the industry for a year to pursue a

respected Director of Sales working in the

career as a musician playing in Dandana

industry currently due to his enthusiastic

Band as a Bass Guitarist and Vocalist.

and hardworking nature. Previously, he has

However, he soon realized his passion was

worked at The Small Maldives Island Co. as

the hospitality industry so he joined Soneva

well as at Baros Maldives.

Group as a Guest Relation Officer, and then

He began his career in the hospitality

as a Butler at Soneva and Coco Collections,

industry at Sun Island Resort and Spa,

before joining W Hotels as a Front Office

working there for over 7 years before joining

Supervisor. He was soon promoted to

Anantara Kihavah Villas. After working

Assistant Front Office Manager at W Hotels.

as an Assistant Reservation Manager for

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, set

9 years in different resorts including Sun

to debut on 1st July, is the fifth Waldorf

Island and Spa, Anantara Kihaavah Villas

Astoria property to open in the region. It is

and Huvafenshi by Per AQUUM, he was

a part of Hilton Honours, just 30 minutes

promoted to Reservations Manager at

away from Malé International Airport via

Huvafen Fushi by Per Aqumm. Within 8

the resort’s private yacht. The resort boasts

months he became the Cluster Reservation

122 luxurious villas, each equipped with a

Manager of Huvafenshi and Niyama by Per

pool and uninterrupted views of the Indian

AQUUM and in 7 months he had worked

Ocean in its own private enclave.

industry.

Before

Waldorf,

his way up to the Senior Sales Manager at Huvafenfushi Per AQUUM.

RAHUL MALHOTRA APPOINTED AS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AT WALDORF ASTORIA HOTELS & RESORTS Soneva, the world-leading luxury resort operator,

founder of Atlantic Estates, a network of estate

welcomes Artur Simes and Sonika Adlakha to its

agencies, which later became affiliated to Sotheby’s

Soneva Villa Ownership (SVO) team.

International Realty. Before joining Soneva Artur

The Soneva Villa Ownership program is the first

served as the Chief Operating Officer Sales &

and only such programme that allows clients to

Marketing at Royal Park Mauritius and as Director

own a luxury villa in the Maldives. The programme

of Sales & Marketing at Porto Montengegro. Artur

is particularly appealing to those who frequently

joins the Soneva team as the Managing Director –

holiday in Maldives. The villas are designed

Soneva Villa Onwership.

and built according to the needs of the owners

Sonika Adlakha brings almost two decades

and, once built, are looked after by the Soneva

of hospitality experience. She has previously

management team. When owners are not

worked with Shangri-La Resorts, Las Vegas Sands

holidaying in their villas, they can opt to rent them

Corporation and InterContinental Group. Most

out by joining Soneva’s Villa Rental Programme.

recently she was the Director of Sales for the Sun

With extensive experience in the hospitality

Aqua brand under Sun Siyam Group, in Maldives.

and real estate sectors, Artur brings a wealth

Sonika joins the Soneva team as the Director of

of experience to the SVO program. Artur is the

Sales – Soneva Villa Ownership.

18 PEOPLE

ROSHAN RADHAY APPOINTED AS THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING AT LUX* RESORTS & HOTELS – MALDIVES & MIDDLE EAST Lux* Resorts & Hotels has appointed Roshan

impeccable track record mainly focused on

Radhay as the new Regional Director of

hotel openings and business development.

Sales and Marketing for the Maldives and

Moreover, Russian-born Roshan is fluent in

the Middle East at its two properties in the

English, French, Russian, Spanish, Hindi,

Maldives, LUX* South Ari Atoll and LUX*

and Mauritian-Creole.

North Male’ Atoll.

In a statement given by Sydney Pierre,

Most recently, Roshan served as the Cluster

Senior Vice President of Commercial at

Director of Sales at Shangri-La Barr Al

The LUX* Collective noted, “With Roshan’s

Jissah Resort & Spa and Shangri-La Al Husn

impressive record of proven success, the

Resort & Spa, Bahrain. He has previously

company is excited to have him onboard to

held key positions with major leading

further strengthen the relationship with key

premium brands such as One & Only Seef

partners, boost the growth of the group as

Bahrain, One & Only Le Saint Géran,

well as to continually execute with precision

Jumeirah Royal Saray in Bahrain and Sofitel

and confidence.”

Luxury Hotels and Resorts.

Mauritius-based LUX* operates two resorts

Roshan brings with him over 10 years

in the Maldives: LUX* South Ari Atoll and

of demonstrated experience in luxury

the recently opened LUX* North Male Atoll.

hospitality, sales and marketing with an

RASHVAN IBRAHIM APPOINTED AS THE RESIDENT MANAGER AT YOU & ME BY COCOON Rashvan Ibrahim has been appointed as the

You & Me by Cocoon Maldives is a brand

Resident Manager at You & Me by Cocoon.

new adults-only island targeted for couples,

Most recently, he worked as the Director of

honeymooners, and friends which is owned

Food and Beverage at Sheraton Maldives

and managed by Cocoon Investments. This

Full Moon Resort & Spa.

is the second resort under their operations,

He has previously worked in major leading

first being Cocoon Maldives which opened

premium brands such as Baros Maldives,

in March 2017.

Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, Sun Siyam

.

Resorts, Constance Hotels Experience, Six Senses Oman and at Taj Hotels & Resorts.

Rashvan is fluent in Hindi, English, and Dhivehi. He is skilled in F&B Management, Hotel Management, and Hospitality.

Located in Raa Atoll, Northern Maldives,

PEOPLE 19

ROSEWOOD HOTELS VIRGIN GORDA RESORT APPOINTS NEW HR HEAD RIZAN AFEEF Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has appointed

Moreover, Rizan is a certified PADI open

Rizan’s tenure with Rosewood Hotels Virgin

Rizan Afeef as the new Director of Human

water and enriched air diver. He was

Gorda has begun in March 2019.

Resources at Little Dix Bay, British Virgin

awarded

Hong Kong-based, Rosewood Hotels &

Islands.

Hospitality Leaders” award by World HRD

Resorts®

Rizan has a strong track record in human

Congress and “Most Talented HR Leaders

luxury properties in 15 countries, with

resources with 16 years of experience across

2017” by HR Maldives in 2018.

23 new hotels under development. The

several blue-chip hospitality brands, all with

Rizan commented on his new position: “I

Rosewood collection includes some of the

a particular focus in shaping the culture of

am passionate about working with teams to

world’s most legendary hotels and resorts,

the business, organization design, team

both help elevate the brand in the eyes of its

including The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel

development, and talent management.

guests but also the wider community. This is

in New York, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle

Most recently, Rizan served as the Director

a vital combination in making a hotel work

Creek in Dallas and Hôtel de Crillon and A

of Human Resources & Training at Six Senses

successfully. As one of the world’s leading

Rosewood Hotel in Paris.

Laamu, Maldives. He has previously held

luxury hospitality brands, Rosewood will be

key positions with major leading premium

really challenging and exciting to work for.

brands such as Anantara Hotels Maldives,

I’m confident that my background in talent

Minor Hotel Group Malaysia, Velaa Private

acquisition and management will help us to

Island, Four Seasons, and Starwood Hotels

put in place a structure which can support

& Resorts.

our ambitious sales plans.”

the

“Asia’s

Most

Innovative

manages

24

one-of-a-kind

20 AVIATION

AIRASIA AIMS TO DISRUPT ONLINE TRAVEL AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes is taking

with value, which can be used to build other

AirAsia on the final part of the company’s

businesses. It’s easy to change people’s

evolution, one that will see the airline

mindset about AirAsia to an online travel

become a tech player by disrupting the

agency. It’s just advertising and branding,

disruptors in the online travel space.

something which they are very good at said,

They started investing in OTAs as they have

Fernandes.

better data and reach than many of the

They have never advertised hotels, holidays

other OTAs. They have been building the

but now they are going to be selling hotels,

right people, systems and infrastructures

holidays, etc. And they are planning to

for the platform business. And now they

bring some cool things with AI, machine

are ready to unleash the monster machine.

learning and voice that no other OTA has

They also expect AirAsia.com to sell tickets

done before. They are developing a smart

of non-competing carriers on their website

travel planner for customers. They will also

as well.

have their own messenger product and

After 18 years in business, AirAsia is now the

customers can continue their journey doing

largest low-cost carrier in Southeast Asia

tours and activities, shopping and so on

and has been gifted with a huge customer

with them.

base and data, and a brand synonymous

THE GOVERNMENT DISMISSED R.FAINU AIRPORT PROJECT DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES A The government has made the decision to

previous government and Abdula Haris,

stop the construction of R.Fainu Airport due

the Former Managing Director of Island

to the negative impacts on the environment

Aviation Services to complete the first phase

by the project.

of the Airport Runway and Terminal within

Fainu will lose 31 hectares of vegetation in

one years time. Although there has been

a dense jungle area, which is equivalent to

no progress on the construction of Fainu

57 football fields in size, including several

Airport. The Agreement was signed on

hectares of agricultural land. Islanders will

May 2018 to hand over the Construction of

also lose access to 2.18 kilometers of beach

Fainu Aiport’s to Island Aviation Services.

to the airport’s security zone and the gated

customers can continue their journey doing

hotel. A further four hectares of land will be

tours and activities, shopping and so on

reclaimed for the airport.

with them.

An agreement was signed between the

MALDIVIAN TO BEGIN FLIGHTS TO EUROPE The National Airline of Maldives, Maldivian

travels to Europe, wide-body aircrafts

has geared up for regular flights to Europe

are necessary and that any other similar

with its necessary plans now underway as

requirements shall be looked into along

per Managing Director of Maldivian, Mr.

with the research being conducted.

Mohamed Rizvi.

Currently, the only foreign destinations that

In an interview, Mr. Rizvi explained that if

Maldivian travels to include China, India

they are able to pull this off, they would be

and Bangladesh.

able to increase the number of tourists who visit Maldives from Europe and bring about an increase in profits generated.

He further clarified that the feasibility research required when looking for a new destination to travel to is currently underway. He added that in order to begin

AVIATION 21

PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR SEAPLANE OPERATIONS

BY FLYME Flyme of Villa Air is set to begin seaplane

Flyme is a domestic Airline based in

operations with the opening of the new

Maldives operated by Villa Air which is part

seaplane terminal in Velana International

of the Villa Group of Companies. Flyme

Airport (VIA). The new airport terminal will

provides scheduled flights to domestic

open in August 2019 and will have twice the

airports, serving both the local as well as

capacity of the current airport terminal.

the international markets. Their objective

The Airline has ordered four de Havilland

is to provide an exceptional service to all

Canada Series 300 Twin Otter floatplanes,

passengers traveling on our airline.

as per Mr. Abdulla Nashid, Managing

and activities, shopping and so on with

Director of Flyme. He added that the

them.

aircrafts will be delivered in October. He further mentioned that the maintenance crews prefer the Series 300 model over the Viking Air 400 model due to its proven reliability.

IATA TRAINING TO BE CONDUCTED BY CORAL ACADEMY

The Coral Academy of the Maldives

seat miles being accounted for by this

was granted a permit to carry out the

association, a Maldivian aviation training

International Air Transport Association

company receiving approval to conduct

(IATA) training programmes in the Maldives.

their training in the Maldives is a huge step

According to the Marketing and PR Manager

forward for Coral Academy as well as the

of Coral Academy, Ms. Zaushan Nazeer,

Maldivian airline industry.

this is the first time that an aviation training

Through Coral Academy, IATA approved

company in the Maldives was granted such

cabin crew training and IATA approved

permission to carry out IATA approved

marketing

training programmes.

available. While both courses are priced

International Air Transport Association

at an average MVR 10,600 and are 10-day

is a world-class airline trade association,

programmes. The cabin crew training is to

operating in 117 different countries with

be held during the month of June, and the

about 280 airlines operating through

IATA training for marketing will be held in

it. With roughly 82% of world air traffic

July according to Coral Academy

training

are

now

publicly

20 AVIATION

FOUR SEASONS LANDAA GIRAAVARU REVEALS TRIGGERFISH INSPIRED AIRCRAFT The Flying Triggerfish is the first ever

“We wanted to design a plane that celebrates

customized airplane by Four Seasons and

the vibrancy of our destination,” comments

arguably one of the most picturesque and

Armando Kraenzlin, Four Seasons Resorts

luxurious of planes to fly in the Maldivian

Maldives Regional Vice President. “The

skies. With flights cruising at 3500 ft.,

Flying Triggerfish offers seamless Four

guests would see a breathtaking sight of the

Seasons service and style from the moment

Maldivian islands during their transfer.

guests arrive, in a unique and exciting way.”

Inspired by the colorful Picasso triggerfish

Flying Triggerfish transfers are available

found in Maldivian waters, the private plane

to book per person per way or as private

is completely customized inside and out,

customized charters for up to 8 persons.

from luxuriously refurbished floor, ceiling

Private charters include CIP services.

and sidewalls to an enhanced Garmin

Island-hopping excursions and seaplane

950NXi avionics suite. With half the number

surfaris are also available.

of seats of a commuter seaplane, guests can stretch out in comfort and enjoy Four Seasons amenities such as noise-canceling headphones.

SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS LAUNCHING NON-STOP CHARTER FLIGHTS TO MALDIVES

South African Airways (SAA) has launched

world,” says Tlali Tlali, Spokesperson

non-stop charter flights to Maldives from

for SAA according to a staff reporter

April until October 2019.

SAA was the

at Business Report Online. “Maldives is

first long haul international carrier to fly to

undoubtedly, the obvious choice for a

Gan International Airport, situated at the

memorable holiday, especially over the cold

southern tip of Maldives 0.65 degrees south

South African winter.”

of the Equator in November last year.

By flying direct to the southern part of the

South Africans and international travelers

Maldives, SAA can reduce the flying time

can make use of the specially chartered

from 16 hours (via the Middle East) to

flights following the conclusion of an

only 7 hours. The Maldives flights follow a

exclusive

between

number of other charters SAA successfully

SAA and Air Tour Operators (ATO) and

operated this year. SAA’s charter operations

the Tourism Ministry of the Maldives, for

increased dramatically over the past couple

non-stop flights between South Africa and

of months. SAA will be selling the packages

Maldives.

through their three City Ticketing Offices

“Holiday-makers can look forward to

(CTO) in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape

unrivaled

Town.

charter

luxury,

agreement

pristine

white

sand

beaches, and an amazing underwater

AVIATION 21

ACJ LAUNCHED THEIR NEW FLIGHT – ACJ319NEO The newest flight of the Airbus Corporate

firm orders for the A320 family. This

Jets (ACJ) has been successfully launched

includes the total 14 corporate jet orders

as the ACJ319neo and has completed

and commitments for the ACJ320neo

its first flight which lasted 1 hour and 55

family derived aircraft. And from the 700

minutes. This was only the beginning as it

aircraft, there are 200 Airbus corporate jets

was a short flight-test programme to verify

in service worldwide including Antarctica.

its features such as its fuel tanks which allow intercontinental range.

The aircraft was built for K5 Aviation of Germany but will be equipped with a VIP cabin by Fokker Techniek in the Netherlands. Derived from the A320 family, the new ACJ319neo will feature new engines and wingtip-mounted Sharklets as well as lower cabin-altitude for greater passenger comfort.

With about more than 700 A320neo family aircraft already in service, there are 15000

EMIRATES TO DEPLOY ITS REVAMPED B777 TO MALDIVES

Dubai airline Emirates will begin regular

in the middles aisle where it projects a view

flights to the Maldives on June 1 with its

from outside the aircraft using real-time

latest Boeing 777-300 ER craft.

fiber-optic camera technology. Cabins also

Tailored with first-class private suites, the

include privacy panels between seats, shoe

latest Emirates aircraft features comfortably

storage area, footrest, and a personal mini-

designed seats, upgrades and latest version

bar.

of the ice flight entertainment systems

Currently, the airline operates Boeing 777-

across all the cabins. The new suites

300 ER to Brussels, Geneva, Vienna, Tokyo

include seats that recline into a fully flat-

(Haneda), London Stansted and Riyadh

bed and can be placed in a ‘zero-gravity’

and plans to deploy the aircraft on flights

state which is inspired by NASA technology,

to Kuwait from June onward. The Maldives

for a feeling of weightlessness while flying.

will become the first destination in the South

The industry’s ‘first virtual windows’ can be

Asian region to be served on a regular basis

experienced by customers seated in suites

by the new aircraft.

22 AVIATION

SCOOT TO STOP ITS FLIGHTS TO FOUR DESTINATIONS Scoot Airlines will stop its flights to four destinations

They can also obtain a full refund on their booking via

within this year due to weak demand and a shortage

their original mode of payment, or a 120% refund via a

of flights. The cities are Lucknow in India, Kalibo in

Scoot Travel Voucher.

the Philippines, Quanzhou in China and Malé in the

The aircraft shortage has come about because SilkAir is

Maldives.

no longer able to transfer its Boeing 737-800NG aircraft

With carrier flights to Lucknow, Kalibo, and Quanzhou

to Scoot in the current financial year, as originally

3 times weekly, and flights to Malé four times a week,

announced in November 2018, Scoot said. Both Scoot

the suspension of these flights will affect its current

and SilkAir are part of the Singapore Airlines group.

regular customers after it ends in late October.

The last flights from Singapore will depart on June 29

Customers with existing bookings have been contacted

for Lucknow, June 30 for Kalibo, Aug 24 for Quanzhou

and offered several options, including bringing forward

and Oct 25 for Male’.

their travel dates while the services are still operating.

VELANA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CELEBRATES ITS 53RD ANNIVERSARY Maldives Airports Company Ltd (MACL) has celebrated

on the occasion after which MACL staff hosted a

the 53rd Anniversary of Velana International Airport

spectacular show with some breath taking dances and

(VIA) on 12th April 2019. To mark the occasion, a

short stage drama items. At the evening show attended

series of events were held to celebrate the airport’s

by over 700 staff, extravagant gifts were given on stage

anniversary. The day started with the official flag hoisting

as lucky draw items.

ceremony at 0600 hrs. The Acting Managing Director

On occasion of Airport’s 53rd Anniversary, a number of

of MACL Mr. Moosa Solih and Company Secretary

events were done at Velana International Airport. They

Ms. Shaheema Hussain did the honors after which a

included the opening of 14 new check-in counters and

ceremonial cake was cut along with MACL staff.

the opening of New Aerodrome & Ground Aids Building.

On the night of 53rd Anniversary, MACL hosted a

Furthermore, VIA’s New Mobile Application & MACL’s

colourful “Maldivian Themed” evening show. The

new website were launched in a special ceremony.

Acting MD of MACL Mr. Moosa Solih gave a speech

HANIMAADHOO AIRPORT TO HOST INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS Minister of Tourism, Honorable Ali Waheed has stated

In order to increase the frequency of flights of

that within the upcoming 5 years, Hanimaadhoo

international

Airport would host international flights. He mentioned

mentioned that they had recently had a discussion with

this during a press conference held in order to release

Singapore Airlines. However, he added that the size

tourism statistics of March 2019.

and crowded nature of Velana Airport was proving to

During the press conference, the Minister explained

be a huge challenge for that and that the opening of

that the introduction of tourism to all the areas of the

the upcoming runway and terminal will bring about

country was an aim of the government. Hon. Ali Waheed

significant solutions to the existing problems.

added that it was a high priority of the government to develop the northern part of the country. Under this aim, arrangements for international flights from several foreign destinations will be made in Hanimaadhoo Airport.

airlines

to

Maldives,

the

Minister

TRAVEL TECH 23

TECHNOLOGY CHANGING THE GAME IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY Our lives are becoming more and more technological and we are becoming more and more dependent on technological devices. Slowly, but surely, the tourism and hospitality industry is also becoming more and more tech-savvy just like the rest of the world. The following are some of the high-tech hotels in the world who have associated technology into their services.

1.Hotel Ottilia, Copenhagen

which carries out your little tasks.

Hotel Ottilia partnered with ACT.Global, a Danish company and uses their ACT

3. Eccleston Square Hotel, London

CleanCoat technology. This technology

Though it has a historic looking exterior,

enables the room to clean themselves with

the inside of this hotel is highly dependent

a transparent and odorless coating which

on technology. Keyboards are available to

purifies the air in the room for an year.

control music and lighting inside the hotel, iPads act as a room attendant, bathroom

2. Henn na Hotel, Nagasaki

mirrors are installed with flat screen

Henn na Hotel is highly automated and

television’s embedded in them along with

shows

instant frosting feature available in shower

their

advancements

from

the

reception itself where a velociraptor and

glass walls.

human robot greets you. These robots are

Tourism is the most prominent industry

smart enough to carry on conversations

in Maldives and will see technology being

in basic English and Japanese. There is a

incorporated into the industry even more

robot that carries your luggage to the room

than now with the coming years.

and one that stays with you in the room

24 TRAVEL TECH

MALDIVES WHALE SHARK RESEARCH PROGRAMME RELEASED ‘THE REEF’ COMMISSIONED BY APPLE ‘The Reef’ shot on an iPhone commissioned

the power of the ordinary tourist or keen

by Apple was posted on Apple’s official

amateur naturalist in helping gather truly

Youtube Channel on 15th April. The film

useful field data.

is a tribute to the hard work of the in-field

The pattern-comparison algorithm used in

team of the Maldives Whale Shark Research

the “Who’s that Whale Shark” feature was

Programme(MWSRP) and the volunteers

originally developed by Jurgen den Hartog

to appreciate their efforts over the last

and Renate Reijns for their popular photo

decade.

ID software, I3S.

A charity that is breaking new grounds

“A big thank you to the film crew for this

in whale shark research and fostering

masterpiece you created which reflects

community focused conservations initiatives

both the work we carry out on a daily basis

in Maldives and the greater Indian Ocean.

and what a true family the programme

The field team of the MWSRP monitors the

feels for all of us.” was captioned on their

demographics and movement of different

Instagram page of MWSRP by thanking

species such as whale sharks using an IOS

the film crew. The film by Sven Dreesbach

app. You can download the MWSRP app via

was produced by Julia Etzelmueller. The

https://apple.co/MWSRPapp

cinematography

The app used to identify the whale shark

Vargas & Julia Etzelmueller. And also, with

you have just swum with, learn its name,

the contributions of John Agnew as the

its vital stats and keep updated every time

Creative Director and Praneet Kailey as the

it’s seen in the future. Planning a trip or

Social Producer.

simply spotty about whale sharks, keep up

The Maldives Shark Research Programme

to date with other whale shark sightings

(MWSRP)’s goal is to advance the field of

and all the latest whale shark research and

whale shark knowledge and to advocate for

conservation news from the Maldives!

sound conservation policy in the Maldives.

‘Whale Shark Network Maldives’ takes

By encouraging and valuing community and

spot-pattern

technology

industry stakeholder participation, they are

that has long since been the preserve of

able to leverage the scientific research to

scientists and puts it in the hand of anyone

safeguard the rich biodiversity and fragile

with a mobile device. It’s hoped this app

marine ecosystems that are the basis for not

could accelerate the study of the world’s

only whale sharks, but also life, livelihood,

largest fish and provide a blueprint for other

and culture in Maldives.

recognition

was

done

by

Carlos

conservation organizations keen to harness

SOUNDSCAPE – BACKGROUND MUSIC TO YOUR SUCCESS A trailing thought at a café blaring EDM at

these experts will deliver fresh music that

9am turned into an idea that changed the

reflects your signature brand and unique

game. The creative minds at Soundscape

atmosphere.

have created the first one-stop sound

With clients such as the likes of Kandima

solution in the Maldives.

Maldives, Coco Chic and Seagull Café

This music consultancy service gives your

under their wing, Soundscape strives to

brand its own distinct background music.

help your brand stand out.

The system boasts bespoke playlists crafted by seasoned curators. Rest assured knowing

ACCOMODATION 25

ONE&ONLY REETHI RAH LISTED AS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HOTEL POOLS IN THE WORLD One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives listed as

notable mentions included in the list that

one of the most beautiful hotel pools in the

perfectly compliment their environmental

world according to the Architectural Digest.

surroundings with unique designs that are

One&Only Reethi Rah in the Indian Ocean

both beautiful and creative;

has no shortage of places to cool off and relax. While some overwater bungalows

1.Wildflower Hall, Shimla in the Himalayas,

have their own private pools, the adults-

India

only serenity pool overlooking the lagoon

2.Capella Ubud, Indonesia

is almost 100 feet long with an internal

3.Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti,

jacuzzi.

Tanzania

One&Only Reethi Rah offers 130 private

4.Belmond Hotel Caruso, Italy

resort villas well separated along the shore,

5.Aman Tokyo, Japan

either on the beach secluded by lush

6.The Mulia, Indonesia

tropical greenery, or set above the clear,

7.Four Seasons The Nam Hai, Vietnam

protected waters of the lagoon. Designed

8.Villa d’Este, Italy

in an elegant contemporary style, these are

9.Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, France

amongst one of the largest resort villas in

10.Hotel Indigo Hong Kong Island,

the world.

Hong Kong

Swimming pools are arguably the heart

11.Grace Hotel, Santorini, Auberge Resorts

and center of any luxury hotel. Its the

Collection, Greece

place to relax, so it comes as no surprise that hotel properties have seriously been stepping up their swimming pool game in recent years with awe-inspiring designs and unique amenities. Here are some of the

BANYAN TREE HOTELS & RESORTS CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH OVER 25% REDUCTION OF SINGLEUSE PLASTIC IN A YEAR

Bandos Maldives announced that they will

“If a straw isn’t required for your drink,

no longer be making use of plastic straws in

join with us in this worldwide movement

the resort. They made this announcement

and commit to skipping the straw which

through their Facebook page as part of

is only a small step that will go a long

their Earth Day 2019 celebrations and as

way in protecting our species.” said the

part of reducing the usage of single-use

announcement made by Bandos.

plastic in the resort.

Bandos had previously switched over to

With regards to the decision to discontinue

reusable glass bottles in order to reduce

single-use plastic straws, the resort ceased

the usage of single-use plastic in the resort.

to use plastic straws from 22nd April

They also produce their own water in their

onwards and asks guests to avoid usage

own drinking water facility.

of straws if possible. They added that if needed, a biodegradable straw will be provided.

26 ACCOMODATION

WALDORF ASTORIA MALDIVES ITHAAFUSHI OPENS IN JULY 2019 Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi is

and communities through its philosophy of

set to open in July 2019. The resort is

“Embracing the Environment, Empowering

only a 30 minute ride away from Velana

People”.

International Airport. Various sorts of

Up to 80% of ocean plastic pollution

activities are offered at this resort which

originates from land. Recognising the

could be enjoyed by all generations.

detrimental

The resort consists of a collection of 122

environment and marine life, the premium

villas spread across the three islands. Each

hotel operator and developer implemented

villa is equipped with its personal pool

a plan for all its properties to phase out the

with spectacular views of the ocean. All

use of disposable plastics.

Reef, beach and overwater villas will open

The first year saw the strategic reduction

into an indoor and outdoor deck which

of 31 commonly used plastic products,

will consist of a swinging daybed, dining

particularly 1 million plastic bags (-28%),

gazebo, infinity pool, in-water lounge and

1.3 million plastic straws (-51%) replaced

an outdoor shower.

with paper, steel and bamboo straws, 1.28

Waldorf Astoria will include 11 dining

million plastic bottles (-28% water bottles

venues to offer various cuisines and to

& -63% soft drink bottles), cocktail stirrers

showcase the culinary expertise of Waldorf

(-58%) and plastic-wrapped minibar items

Astoria. It will also feature a two-bedroom

(-72%).

overwater villa along with a three bedroom

Aimed to be launched this year towards

beach villa which would give guests the

overall plastic reduction, the Group’s

absolute seclusion they need.

lifestyle retail arm – Banyan Tree Gallery is

“We are extremely proud to bring the brand

developing sustainable alternatives for its

to a destination as synonymous with luxury

range of guests’ amenities such as cotton

as the Maldives, and we look forward to

buds, combs and toothbrushes. Banyan

delivering unforgettable experiences that

Tree‘s reformulated body and aromatherapy

theme Protect Our Species, Banyan Tree

activities

reflect Waldorf Astotia’s unique sense of

products are made of 95% natural botanical

reinforces its efforts to safeguard the

ups, sustainability talks on environment

place and iconic service standards.” said

ingredients which are sustainably sourced.

natural environment and biodiversity. With

and 5Rs for responsible consumption and

Mr. Daniel Welk, vice president, luxury and

The 18-month research and development

many resorts located in eco-sensitive and

supporting international events such as

lifestyle group, Asia Pacific, Hilton.

extended across the value chain of both its

protected areas, the Group is dedicated to

Earth Day and World Environment Day.

If the guest needs to relax and let out stress,

packaging and ingredients so as to create

conserving the environment.

The Group also marked Earth Hour 2019

they can pay a visit to the Waldorf Astoria

the best possible products for people and

In addition, its dedicated Marine Labs, a

by engaging close to 15,000 people in 43

Spa comprised of ten overwater or garden

the environment.

first in the Maldives, and Conservation Lab

properties worldwide, leading to energy

villas offering a diverse menu of treatments

Dr Steve Newman, Assistant Vice President/

in Bintan support conservation through

savings of over 5,000 kWh – enough to

and Asian-inspired therapies focusing on

Group Sustainability Director, says: “This is

research,

power a four-bedroom public housing unit

relaxation and rebalance.

a positive first step in the right direction,

programmes. In 2018, the Group conducted

in Singapore for 13 months.

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts Celebrates

considering the magnitude of Banyan Tree

annual monitoring of 18 coral reef sites and

Designed for travellers who champion

25th Anniversary With Over 25% Reduction

Hotels & Resorts’ ultimate plastic-free

shark populations in the Maldives and three

sustainable

development,

of Single-Use Plastic In A Year

goal. The hospitality and tourism industry

reef sites in Bintan, while seven Banyan Tree

Anniversary

“Exceptional

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts celebrates its

as a whole is a major consumer of this

properties organised turtle awareness talks

Celebratory Offer includes the choice of a

25th Anniversary and Earth Day 2019 with

planet’s resources, often providing one-

and hatchling releases. Laguna Golf Lang Co

complimentary Exceptional Experience to

over 25% groupwide reduction of single-use

time use products on mass scales. Looking

is an edible course with padi fields, farmers

celebrate the Community with a Sustainable

plastic in a year. The Group announced a

at the links between human activities,

and buffalos while Laguna Golf Phuket and

Activity. It includes 25% savings on rooms

pledge against single-use plastic in support

plastic pollution and biodiversity loss with

Bintan use recycled water from the hotels

(Best Available Rate), food and beverage,

of Earth Day 2018 theme End Plastic

environment degradation, this presents

for irrigation as sustainable golf courses.

Spa and Gallery retail and the signature

Pollution. Within a year, this declaration

a unique opportunity for our Group to

Driven by Banyan Tree Global Foundation,

25th Anniversary Cocktail – The Botanical.

has inspired the change across its 48 hotels

impact and drive change on global plastic

the non-profit arm (an integral part of

During the stay, guests will be invited to

worldwide and successfully eliminated 4.2

consumption amongst our stakeholders

the management’s framework) focuses

partake in Banyan Tree’s 25th anniversary

million single-use plastic items, equating to

especially the suppliers. As a pioneer with

on directing social and environmental

groupwide sustainability activities from tree

a significant 26% reduction in total usage.

ongoing stewardship in sustainability, the

responsibility across the Group. Highlighting

planting, school projects to community

Championing 25 years of sustainable

Group remains committed to our pledge to

the power of responsible tourism to promote

home visits – focusing on its ethos of

development

in

eliminate single-use plastic and continues

positive change, Banyan Tree continually

creating better environments and enriching

1994, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts has

to embed climate change within our

educates and involve guests, associates and

more lives as it celebrates 25 Years and

pioneered the journey of stewardship in

sustainability efforts and projects.”

the community to actively do their part for

beyond.

its commitment towards the environment

This year, in line with Earth Day 2019

the environment. This is achieved by driving

since

its

inception

effect

of

plastic

on

the

restoration

and

awareness

including

community

the

clean-

25th

Experiences”

ACCOMODATION 27

KULA ART FESTIVAL AT KANDIMA The KULA art initiative at Kandima originally

yellow and purple make for a beautiful

piloted on the 5th of October 2017 and has

finishing line.

been running as a first of its kind annual

At the very front of the KULA Art initiative

event. In the event, 20 local artists gather

is the resident artist and extraordinaire

and share their different forms of artistic

Aima Musthafa. With a knack for the arts

capabilities. While some go for the digital

and design and a professional background

artistic look, others prefer coffee, acrylic

in illustration and videography, Kandima

or spray paint. But don’t forget, there’s also

Maldives believes that her bubbly nature

henna painting as well as local crafts.

and infectious smile would be perfect for

KULA Arts Festival doesn’t end here yet,

their art studio which overlooks a beautiful

there’s also a series of fun beach games for

natural lake. Therefore, a visit to the

all ages to enjoy. With different art activities

Kandima Art Studio is sure to be a fun and

as well as something delicious to eat. The

colorful time for everyone.

magnificent representation is brilliant in its display of a carnival theme. With live art demonstrations, there are also art classes for guests with a fun color run at the end.

The powdered colorful path of various colors such as blue, green, pink, orange,

AMILLA FUSHI’S NEW BLISSFUL BUNDLES ENTICE GUESTS TO ENHANCE THEIR MALDIVES EXPERIENCE Visitors to idyllic Maldives dreamscape

trainers, wellbeing experts or a ‘Visiting

Amilla Fushi can now begin shaping their

Hero’ practitioner. Sauna and steam rooms

island adventure in advance with the launch

await to round off the day.

of five new ‘blissful bundles’ – enchanting

Thrill seekers can plunge into the Water

bolt-on packages that build the buzz by

Adventure Bundle, promising a choice of

enticing guests to relax, discover, play and

exhilarating dives, aqua excursions, jet

indulge through a collection of carefully

skiing, hover-boarding and parasailing

curated – and substantially discounted –

sessions, as well as unlimited non-motorised

experiences. The pampering parcels include

sports activities. Active Pursuitsoffers a

a variety of additional enhancements, from

day of play, from private tennis lessons on

foodie forays, soothing spa sessions and

Amilla’s full size courts or energizing yoga

adrenalised adventures to complete island

or personal training; to sessions with the

indulgence, inviting Amilla acolytes to play

resort’s regular ‘Visiting Heroes’, ranging

it their way in anticipation of their arrival.

from artists and master jewelers to yogis

Food lovers can rejoice with the Dine

– with a complimentary babysitting service

and Imbibe Passport, offering boundless

ensuring guests are free to enjoy whichever

indulgence across more than 10 different

they choose.

dining

Island

Or of course, guests can revel in designing

Home delivery service; lunch at the new

their own unrestricted adventure with

nurturing Wellness Café; afternoon tea at

the inclusive Luxury Bliss Indulgence

theEmperor Beach Club; dinner at Amilla’s

bundle – the ultimate ‘bundle of bundles’,

award-winning signature restaurantFeeling

combining the foodie freedom of the Dine

Koi; plus a selected beverage package and

and Imbibe Passport with the luxury of any

mini bar service.

three activites from the Wellness and Spa

Wellness and Spa Time beckons for

Time, Water Adventure Bundle and Active

those seeking revitalization or relaxation.

Pursuits packages.

Guests

experiences,

including

can opt to immerse themselves

in a signature treatment from Javvu Spa’s integrated menu, featuring results-driven remedies from an expert edit of world-class brands including !QMS, iLA, Louise Galvin, Margaret Dabbs and Gentlemen’s Tonic; or sign up for sessions with Amilla’s personal

28 ACCOMODATIONS

MARRIOTT HOTELS SANCTION A BAN ON PLASTICS IN ALL THEIR PROPERTIES The use of plastic in daily life might not

of an estimated 1 billion plastic straws and

be

250 million stirrers would be eliminated.

equally

concerning

for

everyone.

The problem occurs when and where

This is a big deal not only because of the

the plastic ends up afterward – in our

scale of the ban implemented, but also

oceans. Therefore, when major companies

to the fact that hotels are ground zero for

take large scale initiatives for a greener

beverage consumption, and most hotels

tomorrow, it’s a good reason to celebrate.

and resorts are on a beachfront location

According to USA Today, Marriott Hotels

which makes it easier for the plastic to

will be executing a public ban on the use

make its way into the oceans. With this

of plastic straws across all of their hotels

initiative by the Marriott Hotels group, it

within the upcoming month. With almost

can be certain that in the near future that

6500 hotels under the Marriott Hotel

many more hotel groups will be encouraged

group, this would mean that the annual use

to follow.

ACCOMODATION 29

BANDOS MALDIVES DISCONTINUES USE OF PLASTIC STRAWS Bandos Maldives announced that they will

“If a straw isn’t required for your drink,

no longer be making use of plastic straws in

join with us in this worldwide movement

the resort. They made this announcement

and commit to skipping the straw which

through their Facebook page as part of

is only a small step that will go a long

their Earth Day 2019 celebrations and as

way in protecting our species.” said the

part of reducing the usage of single-use

announcement made by Bandos.

plastic in the resort.

Bandos had previously switched over to

With regards to the decision to discontinue

reusable glass bottles in order to reduce

single-use plastic straws, the resort ceased

the usage of single-use plastic in the resort.

to use plastic straws from 22nd April

They also produce their own water in their

onwards and asks guests to avoid usage

own drinking water facility.

of straws if possible. They added that if needed, a biodegradable straw will be provided.

EARTH DAY AT KURUMBA MALDIVES 2019

Earth Day at Kurumba Maldives began with

all ages. A special Mystery of Kurumba

a clean-up activity around beach and lagoon

tour was conducted, educating guests in

areas from early morning, followed by a

the effective recycling process at the back

trip to clean up trash in a remote sandbank

of our house.

nearby. Later in the evening, a reef clean-

The highlight of Earth Day this year at

up activity was also organized by Euro

Kurumba was the launch of

Divers for certified divers to participate in.

our “Fish-bins”. In the shape of fishes, these

A huge amount of trash mainly plastics were

four wire art sculptures were individually

collected during these activities alerting

hand crafted with an aim to use art as

everyone about the major environmental

a call to action. Each of these fish sculptures

issue which we are facing: plastic

has its own name and story and was filled

pollution in the ocean.

with plastic bottles to symbolize the threats

While across the globe, people are looking

of plastics to the ocean and its marine life.

for ways to give back to the environment in which they live, at Kurumba Maldives, we also had our ways to celebrate a responsible act of green. Tree planting activity was held with the participation of many guests from

30 ACCOMODATIONS

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who can create distinctive sound ranging

Want to make sure that the guests are

from sunset to club mix.

having their best time? Choose Uber Events

Equipped with the world’s most prominent

to deliver an unforgettable night for your

sound and lighting brands and vast selection

audience.

of entertainment, Uber Events is the epitome of creative makings. Their latest

UBER EVENTS

novelty: The Silent Party is a revolution in entertainment and is one of the coolest ways

Founded and guided by DJ Umar and DJ

to enjoy three DJ’s and three types of music

Vifak with over 20 years of experience,

with a flick of a switch. The headphones are

Uber Events provides hassle-free event and

wireless and transform a silent environment

DJ management services which are second

to a dance floor

to none. Among the DJ pool are some of

CELEBRITY NEWS 31

ABHISHEK AND AISHWARYA’S 12-YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AT NIYAMA PRIVATE ISLANDS MALDIVES Famous

BEST SELLING ARAB SINGER DIANA HADDAD TO PERFORM AT VELAA PRIVATE ISLAND MALDIVES’ EID GALA This Eid Al-Fitr, Velaa Private Island

she is still one of the best selling singers in

Maldives Resort is proud to present Diana

the Arab World and has released singles in

Haddad who will be conducting a live

Khaliji, Iraqi and Egyptian dialects.

performance at the Eid Gala dinner on 6th

The special Eid Gala dinner is set to take

of June.

place at the beachfront restaurant, Athiri

Recordbreak singer, Diana Haddad is a

from 19:00pm-00:00am where savory and

Lebanese singer and television personality

authentic Arabic cuisine will be catered to

who also holds Emirati citizenship and is

all guests. Reservations can be made by

based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

contacting the Velaa Private Island Maldives

Best known for her first song Saken in 1996,

Resort.

Ammanih in 1997 and Mas & Louly in 2006, HRS_19-707_TTM_AD_02_PATHED.pdf

1

15/4/19

14:58

Bollywood

Abhishek

Kisike Kum Nahin, Devdas, Dil Ka Rishta

Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan,

and more. Abhishek Bachchan is an actor

along with their child Aaradhya Bachchan

and producer and has played several roles

have visited the Maldives to celebrate 12

in movies such as the Dhoom series, Guru,

years since the couple’s wedding in 2007.

Run and etc.

Since their arrival, they have been sharing

Niyama Private Islands Maldives, located in

pictures of Niyama Private Islands Maldives

Dhaalu Atoll consists of two luxury islands

through

offering ultimate privacy to its guests. It is

their

couple,

respective

Instagram

accounts.

highly suitable for romantic getaways and

Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan is an actress,

includes 134 villas on its two islands. The

model, philanthropist and the winner of

villas give an intimate feeling and are set

the 1994 Miss World pageant. She has

apart to allow you to remove yourself from

starred in various movies such as Hum

the hectic and busy world.

32 TTM

MALDIVES LEADING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TRADE SHOW

MEET THE TOP TRAVEL MEDIAS

The leading travel trade show in the world

Journalists and editors exclusively from

exclusively dedicated to selling Maldives.

10 travel and tourism media publications

OVER 200 TOP OPERATORS Leading 200 operators from top 30 markets to Maldives.

means worldwide exposure.

VISION 2023 2.5 million tourists annually by 2023

SEARCH, CONNECT & PRESCHEDULE MEETINGS TTM Connects software allows you to create your profile, message and preschedule meetings with buyers, visitors and other exhibitors

USD 4 BILLION INDUSTRY

OVER 100 PROPERTIES

Over USD 4 billion tourism receipts annually

TTM hosts over 100 exhibitors, including

in Maldives with over 1.4 million tourists

top resorts, hotels, airlines and other key

arrivals.

stakeholders of the tourism.

traveltrademaldives.com

PR EXPOSURE Top event compaines, publishers, location scouts across the globe

TTM 33

HIGHLIGHTS OF TTM 2018

34 TTM

PHENOMENAL SPEAKERS AT THE TTM TRAVEL SUMMIT 2019 Travel Trade Maldives (TTM) opening event,

and strategies at the Summit.

outbound travel market. India’s biggest OTA

Mr. Feizel Samath of TTG Asia will highlight

the TTM Travel Summit, gathers prominent

Professor Hassan Ugail, an esteemed guest

Make My Trip (MMT) Director International

statistics and trends of the Asean Market,

figures in the international tourism industry

for this year’s summit is an expert on

Business, Mr. Manish Mudgal will shed light

namely Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and

on 11th June 2019 at Bandos Maldives

Artificial Intelligence currently working as

on key behaviours and trends of the Indian

the likes.

Resort. The Summit, focused on “Travel

a Director at Bradford University. Professor

outbound market. Mr. Sesh Seshadri, the

The dive market is one of the largest areas

Technology & Analytics,” will help the travel

Ugail’s abundance of knowledge will expose

General Manager and Director of Lonely

in Maldives. Mr. Matt Wenger, the Padi

industry to unleash analytics, dynamic

key elements of AI in the travel & tourism

Planet will share the role of Lonely Planet

Regional Manager for Maldives is expected

pricing, digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

industry. In addition to this, Mr. Anshu

and the evolution of an Indian Traveler to

to deliver a presentation in which he will

potential to deliver unstoppable customer

Shrivastava, the Area Director of Sales,

Maldives.

reveal the growth trends & dynamics of the

loyalty and profit.

Southeast Asia of HRS International will

The Summit also focuses on other key

market. Another esteemed guest we have

Minister of Tourism, Honorable Ali Waheed,

express the significance of technology in the

source markets to Maldives. Ms. Julia

for this year’s summit is Mr. Bhavnesh

the chief guest for the event will address the

hospitality industry.

Kaminski, the Purchasing Manager to Sri

Sawhney, the Director of Wednishka,

industry with his opening speech followed

Significant source markets for Maldives

Lanka & Maldives at Dnata is expected to

India’s largest wedding planners who has

by the Managing Director of Maldives

includes China and Italy. Dr. Marcus Lee is

provide a travel analysis of the European

handled some of the biggest weddings of

Marketing and Public Relations Corporation

an expert on ‘China-Ready’ concept who

Market, which is one of the top markets

the world. Mr. Bhavnesh will demonstrate

(MMPRC) Mr. Thoyyib Mohamed, would

will unveil avenues to target the growing

for Maldives. The Editor of the oldest

how to promote Maldives as a wedding

be delivering a presentation on marketing

200 million China outbound market. Mr.

travel trade publication, TTN Middle East,

Destination.

and promotion of Maldives as a destination

Massimo Loquenzi of Master Consulting,

Ms. Rashi Sen will share her opinions and

brand. It is expected to hear the emphasis

the PR firm for Visit Maldives in Italy,

insights to the Middle East Movement to

of Government on tourism industry policies

is expected to deliver a talk on Italy’s

Maldives, especially the Arab Travelers, and

THOYYIB MOHAMED

P R O F. H A S S A N U G A I L

R A J E S H M E H TA

VINODH DHARMARAJAH

LIONNEL MAUGIS

J AY M E H TA

MANAGING DIRECTOR M M P R C

DIRECTOR U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R A D F O R D

HEAD OF ENTERPRISE OOREDOO

COMMERCIAL MANAGER QATAR AIRWAYS

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER — MACL

PRODUCT MANAGER AXIS ROOMS

B H AV N E S H S AW H N E Y

M AT T W E N G E R

MASSIMO LOQUENZI

F E I Z A L SA M AT H

DR. MARCUS LEE

S AV I G O DA K A N DA

D I R E C T O R W E D N I K S H A

REGIONAL MANAGER PADI

MANAGING DIRECTOR MASTER CONSULTING

CORRESPONDENT SRI LANKA & MALDIVES TTG ASIA

CHAIRMAN ASSOCIATION OF SME BUSINESS OWNERS (ICIF)

SENIOR MARKET MANAGER EXPEDIA GROUP

A N S H U S H R I VA S TAVA

G R A E M E D ' A R C Y RYA N

JULIA KAMINSKI

MANISH MUDGAL

SESH SESHADRI

RASHI SEN

AREA DIRECTOR SALES HRS INTERNATIONAL

HOTELS AREA MANAGER BOOKING.COM

PURCHASING MANAGER DNATA GROUP

REGIONAL DIRECTOR MAKEMYTRIP

GM & DIRECTOR L O N E LY P L A N E T INDIA

EDITOR T R AV E L & TO U R I S M NEWS MIDDLE EAST

TTM

OVER 2000 MEETINGS PRESCHEDULED WITH OVER $1 BILLION WORTH OF CONTRACTS TO BE DISCUSSED AT TTM 2019 Over 2000 prescheduled meetings have

12th and13th of June with snack breaks

already been set to take place at Travel

in between. TTM is the largest travel

Trade Maldives (TTM). TTM Organizers’,

trade show held in the Maldives aimed

Orca Media Group (previously Maldives

as a platform where stakeholders of

Getaways) expects to have over 3000

the industry would meet in one place to

meetings scheduled by the end of the

finalize deals that would define the tourism

month discussing over USD $ 1 billion

industry of Maldives. A major focus of TTM

worth of business contracts. As the main

is to address ways in which demand would

component of TTM that connects the

meet the ever-growing supply planned for

travel

Maldives,

the tourism industry of the country while

using the convenient Connect software,

looking at the future. It is estimated that by

registered users can pre-schedule b2b

the year 2020, Maldives would have over

meetings with the most leading decision

50,000 beds. Over 10 international media

makers in the industry. Over 100 hoteliers

such as TTG Asia, TTN Middle East, Travel

have set meetings with over 200 travel

Daily Media, Excelencias Group and Mice

professionals from across the globe. All

Affairs will attend to cover the whole event.

hoteliers and agents are given the ability to

Maldives Supplier Expo component will

set prescheduled meetings of 20 minutes

host over 50 suppliers and over 100 key

totaling 50 meetings in the span of 2 days

decision makers in the hospitality industry

of Travel Trade Maldives. Meetings are

are expected to visit the event.

trade

community

of

expected to go on from 9 am to 5 pm on

MTCC

35

36 FAIRS

INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND TOURISM FESTIVAL 2019 CONTINUES IN YANGZHOU CITY International Economy, Trade and Tourism

companies, multinationals and individual

Festival was held in Yangzhou City in China

businesses to build business relations and

from 25th of April till the 18th of May. This

agreements.

is the largest international festival held in

The highly developed city attracts over

China in Business, Tourism and Technology.

3100 enterprises and over 45000 talents

The opening and major project signing

to settle down forming clusters each worth

ceremony was held on the 18th of April

over 100 billion yuan. Delegations from

which was attended by the Maldivian

Fortune Global 500 companies, top 100

Ambassador to China, Mr Mohamed Faisal.

domestic private enterprises and high-tech

A total of 55 industrial projects worth

industries attended the ceremony this year.

65.8 billion yuan were signed during the

Yangzhou, a hot tourist destination with

ceremony.

more than 2000 years of history has held

The Festival will carry on till 18th May where

the annual festival for 18 consecutive years

this festival will increase the opportunities

being an important platform for Yangzhou

for new technology businesses, state-owned

economic and trade corporation.

MALDIVES PARTICIPATED AT CHINA’S NO.1 B2B FAIR COTTM 2019 Maldives is showcased colorfully at China’s

experience a bit of the Sunny side of life.

number one B2B Fair, China Outbound

These include calligraphy, where names

Travel & Tourism Market 2019 (COTTM) in

of visitors attending the stand are written

Beijing, China. Entering its 15 th consecutive

in Maldivian language (Dhivehi) unique to

year, COTTM is widely recognized as the

the Maldives. Maldivian traditional snacks

industry’s most important platform and

will be displayed at the stand where visitors

remains the only business-to-business

get to taste authentic Maldivian snacks,

event that focuses solely on the growing

this is one of the most attractive aspects of

outbound tourism market in China. While

the Maldives stand for the visitors. Visitors

China is the main contributing market the

can also experience underwater beauty of

Maldives tourism industry, the Maldives

Maldives through a virtual reality headset.

presence will be showcased at COTTM with

Additionally, visitors can pose for pictures

20 participants from 10 companies at a

near the photo booth placed at the stand,

102sqm stand from 15-17 April 2019.

using frame board and post it on social

During

the

three-day

exhibition,

the

media to win a surprise gift.

Maldivian Ambassador to China, Hon.

In 2018, the Maldives welcomed 283,116

Mohamed Faisal, will represent the Maldives

visitors from China, which represented

delegation along with other government

19.1% of total visitor arrivals to the country

officials from the Maldives Embassy based in

during the year. China has been the

China and the Maldives Marketing & Public

biggest source market for the Maldives for

Relations Corporation and representatives

the past 9 years and will continue to play

from the Maldivian tourism industry. The

an important role in the Maldives travel

delegation will meet with travel industry

industry. Therefore COTTM is the perfect

professionals and discuss potential future

platform to display Maldives vacation

collaborations to further promote Maldives

products to a prime audience

in China.

This year, various activities are held at the Maldives stand for the visitors to

FAIRS 37

MALDIVES TAKES PART IN ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET The

Maldives

Public

identified with the Middle East market.

has

Additional activities at the Maldives stand

commenced a four day exhibition at the

include gourmet food tasting of local flavors

Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the leading

of Maldivian snacks. Other highlights

global event for the Middle East inbound

of activities also include experience of

and outbound travel industry for the last 25

Maldives

years. The Maldives delegation is led by the

colorful underwater flora and fauna, swim

Managing Director of MMPRC, Mr. Thoyyib

with whale sharks or the serene sunny

Mohamed. As one of the largest trade fairs

beaches of the Maldives.

taken part by the Maldives, ATM is attended

Maldives will also be holding a press

by 133 representatives from 66 companies

conference on the 2nd of May at 1800hrs,

from the Maldives tourism industry.

at the Oberoi Dubai, Hall B, Al A’amal St.,

The Maldives stand is built in a 209 sqm

Dubai which will be attended by the major

space located at Hall 3 (Sheikh Saeed)

tour operators and top travel trade media.

of Dubai International Convention and

colorful underwater flora and fauna, swim

Exhibition Centre (DICEC) at stand number

with whale sharks or the serene sunny

AS2150. During the four days of ATM,

beaches of the Maldives.

officials will be meeting with industry

Maldives will also be holding a press

professionals to explore means to further

conference on the 2nd of May at 1800hrs,

develop and strengthen the presence of the

at the Oberoi Dubai, Hall B, Al A’amal St.,

Maldives in the Middle East Market.

Dubai which will be attended by the major

The

tour operators and top travel trade media.

Relations

Marketing

Corporation

Maldives

stand

and

(MMPRC)

displays

various

through

virtual

reality,

with

aspects of the destination through colorful images that represent the segments most

M7

38 WELLNESS

CROWN & CHAMPA RESORTS TO OPEN A NEW WELLNESS RESORT

Maldives’ first ever wellness island resort,

The resort is being developed on the

Kagi Maldives is set to be launched by

uninhabited island of Kagi in North Male

Crown & Champa Resorts (CCR). It is

Atoll. The 2.5-hectare island, located

described as a 50-room resort, with 40

about 55 kilometers from the main Velana

water villas and 10 beach villas, giving an

International Airport, was leased for USD

authentic Maldivian experience blended

2.1 million through closed bidding in 2017.

with comfort and style.

Photos reveal that construction of the

Moreover, with an overwater restaurant,

resort is underway. However, the opening

bar, and pool, the resort also gives guests

date is yet to be announced.

a chance to experience an A La Carte

With the addition of this resort, the total

restaurant deep within the vegetation of the

number of properties owned by the CCR

island. Sitting a few meters of the coast of

will rise to 9 resorts all across the Maldives,

the island, the wellness center is the main

with each resort catering to different niches

attraction of the island, offering different

and gaining popularity rapidly.

styles of treatment rooms and an open-air yoga room.

CURISES 39

SUN PRINCESS BY PRINCESS CRUISES ARRIVES TO MALDIVES Sun Princess operated by Princess Cruises

passengers out of which 90% passengers

has arrived to Maldives at 0615 hrs on 24th

are Japanese.

April 2019. Sun Princess was built on 1995

Princess Cruises is a US cruise company

and is owned by Carnival Corporation & Plc

headquartered in Beverly Hills CA. A

and was built by Fincanteri of Monfalcone,

former subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises

Italy.

(founded 1977), in 2003, the company

The cruise ship is 261 meters and is 32

merged with Carnival Corporation – world’s

meters wide. It has a capability of carrying

largest passenger shipping company. Among

upto 2419 passengers and 924 crew

Princess Cruises assets is the Caribbean

members as per cruisemapper. It consists

private island resort Princess Cays (on

of 14 decks and 1008 cabins.

Bahamas Eleuthera Island’s southern end),

Sun Princess is being handled by Antrac

located approx 80 km (50 ml) Nassau.

Holdings and arrived with over 1600

AIDABELLA BY CARNIVAL SEEN DOCKED IN MALDIVES AIDAbella, a cruise liner operated by AIDA

The cruise ship is being handled by Alliance

Cruises has made its way to Maldives at

Management Services Company Pvt Ltd

0700 hrs on 22nd April 2019. AIDAbella was

(AMSCO) and will be staying in Maldives for

built on 2008 by Meyer Werft of Germany

a day. It will restart its journey on 23rd April

and is owned by Carnival Corporation and

2019 and will end the cruise by docking in

PLC.

Dubai, Port Rashid, UAE on 3rd May 2019.

The cruise ship is 251 meters in length and 32 meters wide. It contains 14 decks, 2025 cabins and can house 587 crew with 2050-2500 passengers in total as per cruisemapper. Currently, the ship is making an 18 day cruise themed Easter with over 2000 passengers, which began on 15th April 2019 and will end on 03rd May 2019.

media & marketing company | www.orcamedia.group

TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY FIYA · PUBLISHED BY MVHOTELS

33

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