Maldives populace to almost a million by 2054

Maldives populace to almost a million by 2054

The population projection means there will be twice as many people living in the Maldives.

The Maldives population is expected to reach almost one million by 2054, with more than half of the country’s nationals living in the Greater Malé area, a United Nations report published Wednesday said.

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) also said the 2054 population figure would consist of 57 percent Maldivians and 43 percent foreigners.

Its overall population projection of 974,359 means there will be twice as many people living in the Maldives, according to the report.

Another key finding says that many of the bigger atolls will lose close to one-third of their population due to internal migration and a declining fertility rate, whereas the 2014 census showed that the majority of the population was living in the atolls.

The Maldives will also have 75 elderly people to every 100 children compared to 17 per 100 in 2014 and, while the child population currently accounts for 28 percent, it drops to 18 percent by the end of the projection period.

“The time has come for the Maldives to highlight population and development issues within the overall socio-economic development strategy of the country,” said the report.

“To do so, it will be necessary to reinforce the institutions dealing with population and development issues, especially those located in the President’s Office including the Economic and Youth Council and the Social Council.”

There was a continued need for affordable housing schemes in order to help people relocate to Greater Malé, better mechanisms to deal with the ageing population and greater emphasis on female education, said the report.

Outing islands to be worked close Malé

Outing islands to be worked close Malé

The capital lacks a natural beach and its residents flock to suburb islands at weekends.

Two picnic islands are to be built near the capital, a state-owned company said Tuesday, more than a year after the project was first launched.

The Maldives Integrated Tourism Development Corporation (MITDC) said they will be in Galufalhu lagoon, which is 15 minutes from Malé.

Uninhabited islands that are open to the public for recreational use are known as ‘picnic islands’ in the Maldives.

Kuda Bandos and Feydhoo Finolhu, previously used as picnic islands by residents of the congested capital city, were controversially leased for resort development. Malé lacks a natural beach and its inhabitants flock to the suburb islands of Hulhumalé and Vilimalé on weekends.

The government has so far failed to deliver on a promise to allocate a new picnic island near Malé and the restart of the project comes as the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party, in its manifesto for the September presidential elections, pledged to develop a picnic island for Malé residents..

Around MVR50 million (US$3.24 million) has been estimated as the total cost to reclaim the seven hectares needed for the two islands, MITDC managing director Mohamed Shahid said.

“We are hoping to finish the reclamation work within two months and complete the whole project in six months,” he was quoted as saying by Mihaaru.

The company said that affordable services – such as day rooms, a barbecue area, a restaurant and water sports facilities – would be available on the two islands.

Shahid added that the reclamation work would be handed over to a company this month.

The project was first announced more than a year ago, when MITDC said it was evaluating bids for developing a picnic island  near Malé.

The company sought expressions of interest in March 2017 and offered, as an incentive, a 50-year lease to develop a tourist resort on a portion of the reclaimed island.

An MITDC official told the Maldives Independent at the time that the company was evaluating proposals but declined to provide further information.

The Maldives New International Airport Boosts Tourism

Maldives has been enjoying heavy tourists visit especially during summer. The opening of Gan Airport will further boost tourism in the country. Maldives' new international airport is located in the southern part of island. At present, it holds flight on board Airbus 320 from Colombo four times a week.

Gan Airport is adjacent to the town of Addu, and will serve as gateway to the southern part of the region. The first commercial flight took place last month flying from Colombo. Gan is an upgraded airport of a former UK Royal Force refilling base. In 1976, it became a domestic airport.
As of today, the airport only caters a flight from Colombo via Sri Lankan Airline Airbus 320 with 150-seat capacity. The flight from Sri Lankan capital only takes 110 minutes. It flies during Tuesday, Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays.

Sri Lankan Airlines, through its General Manager for Marketing, Saminda Perera, said that because their airline treats Maldives as an extension of their marketing strategy, the company will make sure that Gan will receive worldwide recognition. Resort owners have responded favourably to the opening of the airport near them.

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort has its own on-demand 30-minute plane services from Gan to their luxuries hideaway. Using Trans Maldivian Airline, the resort is expecting more numbers of guests due to the convenience of travel they offer. The General Manager of the resort was quoted saying, "Whether vacationers travel here to enjoy our spacious over-water villas, varied water sport activities or Navasana Spa - we know that the journey here is part of the holiday experience, so we warmly welcome the new option".

Other resorts in the southern atolls of Gnaviyani, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gaafu Alifu and Seenu are also hoping for boosts of tourism in their areas. Hoteliers are positive that big airlines from the Middle East will introduce flights to Gan.

PARADISE IN THE MALDIVES

Poking precariously above the water, Mirihi Island appears on the horizon like a beached turtle. The pilot of the tiny seaplane that is taking me to the Maldivian resort, recently voted the seventh best hotel in the world, is sitting within arm’s reach. He is not wearing any shoes.

After a splash landing, a posse of islanders greets me on the pontoon. They also are barefoot. Before I have checked in, a staff member politely asks me to remove my sneakers and leave them lying in the sand to be picked up and taken, together with my bags, to my water villa, a straw-roofed hut suspended on stilts above the water 20 feet from shore.

I quickly learn why footwear is not just unnecessary but actually a hindrance on Mirihi. Sand is everywhere. It spills from the beaches that skirt the island, leaving a 2-inch-deep layer of white on the floors of the reception area, restaurant and bar. One waiter tells me he hasn’t worn shoes in more than four months, not since the last time he left the island to visit family in Malé, the capital city of the Maldives. “I hated it,” he says. “Shoes are like foot prisons.”

'Barefoot Luxury'

Going barefoot is part of the character that Swiss-born co-owner Amy Stierli has spent the past 15 years trying to create on the island. “Barefoot luxury” is how she describes it over a welcome drink (a coconut with a straw stuck in it). She calls Mirihi “a desert island but with a five-star service.” There is a definite Robinson Crusoe-feel to the place, albeit carefully choreographed: no bathtubs, no swimming pools, no TV sets in the rooms. Their absence means that, absurdly, Mirihi Island is classified as only a four-star resort.

With 157 staffers serving the needs of just 76 guests when the resort is fully booked, Mirihi’s motto is to deliver an experience “as unique as you are.” This cliché feels especially apposite when you consider the homogeneity of the guests. They are almost exclusively couples, ranging from the semi-young to the semi-old: Younger people might not be able to afford a resort like this, while the very old might find all the sand difficult to navigate. Everything is tailored for two: two loungers on the deck, two sinks in the bathroom, two bathrobes in the cupboard. Even the bats have made this a romantic destination, piercing the evening quiet with their mating screeches.

The island’s motto becomes less convincing still when you consider that it is one of more than 100 luxury resorts in the Maldives, spread throughout the roughly 1,200 similarly archetypal tropical island paradises. Yet somehow Mirihi does manage to feel unique. It has its own currency—the hotel gives shells to repeat visitors to spend on the island—and even its own time zone. Stierli has set the island’s clocks one hour ahead of the rest of the country, which allows guests returning from afternoon activities time to catch the sunset. Day excursions to neighboring islands, diving with whale sharks and dolphin spotting offer guests the opportunity to escape the island, which, at just 1,300 feet long by 165 feet wide, can begin to feel claustrophobic, especially because there are no independent shops, bars or cafés on its land mass. One restless afternoon I found myself doing laps of the island, first by foot (seven and a half minutes), then by canoe (18 minutes) and finally swimming (33 minutes, if you discount the time spent marveling at the fish and turtles wallowing around the surrounding coral reef).

Mirihi looks like a cartoon of a desert island: Each picture I take seems worthy of a postcard, largely thanks to the small armies of workers who meticulously rake and comb the sand across the entire island from predawn to dusk. The manicured sand is as soft and sanitized as talcum powder. Even the sun seems preset for my comfort, the bright wide sky as clear as the water. There are also no mosquitoes to worry about, nor mice or dangerous creatures. Though I don’t see any, Stierli tells me there is the odd rat, though clever rebranding means the staffers refer to them as palm squirrels.

Threat of Climate Change

This island paradise image, which helped Mirihi Island Resort earn the rank of seventh best hotel in the world in TripAdvisor’s 2016 Travelers’ Choice Awards, fits a broader notion that all this may well be too good to be true. It is a paradoxical paradise, one that conceals global problems that will almost certainly lead to its demise—if not within years, then in mere decades from now.

The most obvious and talked about problem is climate change, which environmental forecasters predict could make the lowest-lying country in the world disappear below the ocean it now peeks above. (At just under 8 feet, the highest point in the Maldives is 2 inches lower than the highest jump recorded by a human.)

In contrast to climate change activists in some other parts of the Maldives, Mirihi locals can occasionally seem apathetic about the risks. “You don’t really notice it on a year-to-year basis, but you can see in the last 20 years that climate change has affected the Maldives,” Stierli tells me. “Some experts say it will disappear in 20 years, some say 100. I don’t know—it’s something I try not to think too much about.”

If you look closely, you can already see its effects. Sand sucked up from the ocean floor by specially adapted ships tops up Mirihi’s beaches, while a wall on the island’s eastern side prevents more land from slipping into the sea.

To add to these woes, the Maldives also topped a recent list of the world’s 10 most unstable countries, owing to political upheaval and a rise in radical extremism. Estimates suggest the Maldives has the highest number of foreign fighters per capita to have joined the ranks of the Islamic State militant group (ISIS), leading some to declare that climate change is the least of the Maldives’s worries. One attack on a resort from a returning jihadi fighter would be a disaster for tourism, which accounts for 80 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

It is a testament to Stierli’s utopian vision that one’s capacity for comprehending such profound concerns is so severely compromised while on the island. On this pristine Eden, you are Adam or Crusoe, barefoot upon unblemished sands as they slowly sink to join the turtles beneath.

If you can’t swim how to do in the Maldives

“Just don’t drown.” “Of course you don’t need to be a swimmer to do water sports. But, hmmm, well, it’s useful. Just in case… Anyway, I’m sure you’ll be fine.” “Have fun and don’t go in the water.”

Armed with these helpful nuggets of advice and bracing words of comfort from friends and colleagues, I landed in the Maldives. Swimming skills: 0. Fitness levels: Negligible. Enthusiasm and excitement: Off the charts.

I’d never been before, and I was convinced that those eye-poppingly blue blues had to be the result of a lot of time spent on Photoshop. I was wrong. By the time my seaplane landed at The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, I felt like I was in a Technicolor Disney movie, and for once, I wasn’t the sidekick, but the princess. Well, more the little mermaid, given the setting, complete with overwater villas spread into the shape of a manta ray and a spa built to resemble a lobster. At least that’s how the hotel staff treated me, all smiling and waving as the plane landed at the jetty, chilled Champagne ready and waiting for me. Would Ariel ever say no to bubbly before 11am? I didn’t think so.

By the time my personal butler had shown me around my plush, iPad-controlled Sunset Overwater Villa with a private pool (only 4ft deep, so even I could laze like a boss), the fantasy was complete.

Later that evening, I met some of the other characters in my Disney movie at drinks and dinner that included, but was not limited to, fresh crabmeat salad, tenderloin in port wine, fish fillet with carrot and vanilla purée, mandarin ice cream with digestive biscuit, vanilla cream, grapefruit orange salsa and fennel cress AND a sinful chocolate fondant with bitter chocolate sorbet, along with well-chosen wine pairings.

Mildly hungover but fully rested, the next morning, I woke up and reached the exercise room for an aerial yoga class to find rows of bright orange silk hanging like nooses in loops. The rest of my group began to warm up, performing lithe-looking lunges, while I subtly tried to find out exactly how much time I could spend lying in the corpse pose.

An hour later, my head full of tips and tricks from the instructor, I was swinging upside down and hands-free and whooping with delight. “I did it, I did it! Look at me, I’m aerial Ariel!” Giddy with excitement at both achievement and joke, I swung this way and that, trying out various twists and turns. (Of course, I had to book a massage at the spa later, but hey, who’s complaining?)

By dinner, so emboldened was I by my success (and by my perfectly spicy Island Mary, served in a seashell), that I ignored the voices in my head and signed away my life up to go parasailing the next day. Now, anyone who knows me knows I would rather eat my own arm than try an adventure sport, especially one that involves water, so this was extremely out of character. But what is travel for, I asked myself, if not to step out of your comfort zone and test yourself? Ariel was all about trying out new things and seeing a different world.

Cut to the next afternoon, on a small boat in the middle of the sea, where an instructor showed me where to grip the harness I was being buckled into and reminded me of the hand signals to use. Before me, another guy had gone up and thoroughly enjoyed his 15 minutes of fame, as the calm breeze made sure he had a smooth ride. But the thing about the Maldives is that the weather turns in a matter of minutes, so while I was beginning my takeoff, the boat suddenly lurched sickeningly to one side. “Relax, you’re fine,” everyone called out encouragingly, as I rose higher and higher, clutching the rope, swaying like a pendulum in the now strong winds, eyes squeezed shut, whimpering and thinking of my family. After about five minutes of being tossed about like a toy, 50m above the sea, I felt the wind calming down and was able to open my eyes and look around.

This is pretty amazing, I thought, as I took in the stunning 360-degree views of sparkling sapphire water dotted with tiny patches of green. One by one, I unclenched my hands and let go of the ropes to wave at everyone on the boat, letting them know I was fine. I stretched my legs and exhaled, finally enjoying myself. Just then, I felt a sharp tug to the left. I looked down and saw the boat tilt alarmingly. Grabbing the harness again, I yelled, then realised that no one could hear me, and steeled myself to stay the course and finish my session, thinking that it would calm down again in a minute. But then I was swung violently to the right, to the front and back, dancing crazily, like Voldemort had put a Cruciatus curse on me, and decided that thrills and bragging rights were probably less important than life and limb. I made the emergency signal and was brought down to the boat, swearing like a sailor, in another couple of minutes, to much supportive applause and admiring gasps. “It’s great that you managed, ideally you should be about double your weight to be stable in this weather,” the instructor said. Glaring at him balefully for neglecting to inform me of this minor technicality earlier, I put my shaky legs up on the seat and looked out as raindrops turned the fierce, sun-kissed blue a stormy grey and salty spray hit me in the face. I did it, I whispered to myself. I think Ariel would be proud.

‘Luxury in today’s world means rarity’

Combining über luxury with sustainability, Soneva has emerged as one of the leaders in the global luxury travel space.


What is the overall philosophy of the brand Soneva?

We are a family business managed by me and my wife Eva. We focus on the “One Owner, One Operator, One Philosophy, One Brand” strategy. We are not interested on the asset light strategy. The asset light model doesn’t fit with the luxury brands. Over time this will help us to standout. Our philosophy is slow life. In this we are combining luxury, wellness and sustainability. We offer our guests luxury by minimising the impact on the planet. The acronym for Slow life is Sustainable-Local-Organic-Wellness, Learning-Inspiring-Fun-Experiences. The luxury for 21st century travellers is rarity; people are looking out for experiences which are rare. We are providing such unique experiences. We are also combining luxury with wellbeing.

What are your future plans for the Soneva brand?

We introduced luxury travel to Maldives in 1995 with the launch of our first property Soneva Fushi. Now we are 20 years old. In the last three four years we are making quite a lot of upgrades to the existing properties. We want to continuously evolve, so our immediate plan is to keep upgrading our properties.

Apart from this, we want to do a bit more in the Maldives along with our existing infrastructure. We are launching the Soneva Jani on October 28, 2016. This property is situated on a lagoon and it contains six islands. The total area of this property is about four to five kms. We would like to do two more concepts in the Maldives which will be within close proximity to Soneva Fushi. These concepts will not cannibalise on Soneva Fushi or Soneva Jani. At the moment we wouldn’t like to disclose the concept. They will be complementary and not competitive to our existing properties in Maldives. They will be high end products. Soneva in Aqua is a very successful brand as of now. We also want to increase the number of super luxury yachts in other locations.

We are also looking at other locations like Oman, Bali, Japan, Ibiza, and London in future to setup properties. We have a strong leisure component in these cities and our major focus is in the leisure segment.

Who are your investors?

We have roped in a private equity firm with a stake in our company from the Shanghai Government; they have created a private equity firm with 10 of the state owned enterprises. They will want to exit their shares in the next five to six years. Our agreement with them is more investments in our existing assets.

Thailand is aggressively pitching for luxury tourism in India, Do you see a growth from India in your Thailand property?

Soneva Kiri Resort comprises 35 vast pool villas on beach level, hillsides or cliff tops, all overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. The highlights of this property include the open-air Cinema Paradiso, a home-made chocolate and ice cream parlor, high-tech Observatory, manta ray shaped children’s Den and the spectacular Treetop Dining Pod. Travelers from India are doubling every year to all our properties, including the Soneva Kiri. The property is visited by a lot of Indian travelers.

Do you see any opportunity to open up a resort in India?

At the moment we are not looking to open up properties in India. There are still a lot of opportunities in the Maldives. Maldives is much less restrictive, in terms of the visa facilitation. Also, there are a lot of international flights from all the major cities into Maldives. So as of now our priority market will remain the Maldives.

Which are the segments that you are looking at? Do you cater to the MICE as well?

Families are our major segment as we have the big residences. Now we have built the Den which is entertainment for the children. Soneva as a brand is very strong in the family market. Apart from this we cater to honeymooners and the weddings segment. We are witnessing a trend where we get multi generational groups where we see the grand children coming with grandparents. We also cater to the MICE segment, but very small groups. We have the eight bedroom villas which can cater to such groups. We also have small conference facilities.

Anantara wins more Wine Spectator Awards than any individual hotel brand for 2016

Anantara Hotels and Resorts worldwide is celebrating a magnanimous 26 Wine Spectator 2016 Awards, making it the largest recipient of any individual hotel brand to be awarded with these sought-after accolades for 2016

The coveted Wine Spectator Award of Excellence is granted to wine lists which satisfy discerning wine lovers with at least 90 selections, comprising a well-chosen assortment of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in price and style.

The even more prestigious Wine Spectator Best Award of Excellence recognizes destinations for serious wine lovers. Showing a deep commitment in terms of cellar selection, service offering and superior presentation, these wine lists feature 350 or more labels that display excellent breadth across multiple wine growing regions from top producers.

Anantara’s expertise in the world of fine wines is held in high esteem by guests, and also by the industry, with 26 Wine Spectator 2016 Awards a testament to the diversity and sophistication. An industry benchmark of excellence, Wine Spectator's Restaurant Awards recognize restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers. 

“The Wine Spectator awards are known worldwide as a guide to the world’s best wines and we are honored to be part of the Wine Spectator awards which recognizes restaurants that show passion and commitment when it comes to wine,” said Jirachai Sethisa

In Thailand, an impressive 11 restaurants at Anantara resorts have been presented with a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence including: Baan Dhalia at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort; The Service 1921 and The Restaurant akko Chief Wine Guru for Anantara. 

Anantara Chiang Mai Resort; Madison Restaurant at Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel; Sea.Fire.Salt. at Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas and Tree Tops Sky Dining at Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort. 

In Vietnam, Riverside Cafe at Anantara Hoi An Resort provides a charming terrace to sample distinguished wines with gourmet western and Vietnamese favourites. In Bali, MoonLite Kitchen & Bar at Anantara Seminyak Bali Resort showcases contemporary Asian cuisine with a premium wine list of over 100 labels. At the newly opened Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort along Sri Lanka’s southern coast, Il Mare serves delectable Italian cuisine with exquisite wine pairings on a cliff edge with astonishing Indian Ocean views.

In the UAE, six Anantara restaurants have been honoured with a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort scooped three of these for its Australian grill restaurant Bushman’s, Mediterranean restaurant The Beach House, and specialty Asian dining venue Mekong. In the vast Liwa Desert, guests of Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara’s Suhail steakhouse and rooftop lounge. While at the Sir Bani Yas Island Resorts, seafood specialties at Amwaj are enjoyed with an Arabian Sea view, and sumptuous grill dishes at Savannah are served in the heart of the Arabian wildlife park, each with a generous global wine selection.

Fine wines elevate dining in paradise, with six restaurants at Anantara resorts in the Maldives given Wine Spectator Awards, including two boasting the Best Award of Excellence. Descending to the exclusive underwater restaurant and wine cellar Sea at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, wine aficionados are regaled with 360 labels, allowing diners to indulge in extraordinary gastronomy with a surreal panorama of tropical marine life.

Anantara Kihavah Villas Maldives Ranked The Second Best In The World

 

Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas was ranked as the second best resort in the whole world by the Condé Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards 2016. This is not a small feat achieved by the luxury Maldivian resort, Condé Nast Traveler is one of the biggest luxury and travel lifestyle magazines in the world and this years’ Reader’s Choice Awards were participated by over 300,000 people who voted in different categories such as the Indian Ocean’s Best Resort category, which was dominated by Maldivian resorts while Anantara KihavahVillas Maldives took the top spot. Condé Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards have been taking place since 1987 and this year’s awards included 20,000 listing of different exotic resorts, hotels and countries from all over the world.

Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards described Anantara Kihavah Villas as Seventy-eight freestanding beach and overwater villas, each with its own infinity pool, on a private island of soft white sand. It was also recently named as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and is 35 minutes by seaplane from Male’ the capital city of Maldives. It delivered high end thatched-roof luxury, with the lagoon at center stage.




Other resorts from the Maldives also took some of the spotlight with Chevel Blanc Randheli placed at 17th.  The resort was described by Condé Nast Traveler as a recent resort from the luxury conglomerate LVMH, the owners of Louis Vuitton, Céline, Dior etc, that would set the bar high. The white sands and turquoise waters of the Noonu Atoll, in the northwest Maldives, are the backdrop for 45 one and two bedroom villas. And that as far as looks go, it doesn’t get chicer than this, but the whimsical touches such as the turtles drawn in the sand along the path to the villa, thoughtful little notes from butlers left alongside the pitchers of fresh juice was what truly gave this place its character.

One & Only Reethi Rah from the Maldives was also on the list and was portrayed as an instant favorite among honeymooners and celebrity couples, the 130 thatch-roofed villas, all with terrazzo bathtubs for two, are scattered along the 12 beaches of this 109-acre island in the North Male Atoll with the Daybeds outside the Moroccan restaurant, Fanditha, as the best place to take your meals.

A picturesque bonanza

Hanker after an adventurous yet serene break from your hectic urban life? Consider no further than the fascinating islands of The Maldives to have your fill of powdery beaches, water sport activities, seafood and privacy in the various resorts dotting the islands. Tropical climate with an abundance of greenery and cool, blue water all around ensures tourists throughout the year – Westerners come for sun bathing and adventure activities in summer while others visit the island in the months of festivities like Eid, Diwali and New Year.

Positioned smugly in the clear, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, the atolls (a cluster of islands) of The Maldives – about 20 in all scattered over North and South of its capital city of Male, happens to be an independent island country. In most cases, each small island is owned privately in which beautiful 5-star resorts are constructed as tourism is its only revenue. A popular holiday destination with glittering ocean, white sandy beaches, the resorts are sheltered with dense plantations and provide all the amenities for city dwellers. Male is the only one-point entry to the Maldives and the islands are accessible from Male by speed boats or seaplanes.

With a total population of just around 4 lakhs, this South-Asian island country to the south-west of Sri Lanka and India, is a major tourist attraction. It is the lowest country in the world since even its highest point above sea level is less than 8ft with average elevation being 5ft. which allows you to wade in the ocean and that explains why Maldives is a preferred holiday destination.

Bang in the middle of the ocean, each sandy landmass of the island country rests on the shelf of coral reefs and out of the innumerable coral islands, only around 200 are inhabited since some of them got submerged with rising water and in some places new islands are formed but are not inhabitable. Furanafushi island in North Male’s Kaafu Atoll is one of the nearest to the capital city and it can be reached within 20 minutes by speedboat. Like most other, this island too is privately owned but all islands come under The Maldivian governance. Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa owns Furanafushi, Kurumba in Vihamanaafushi and W Resort & Spa in Fesdu islands or any other resort, all offer a variety of facilities and activities to tourists for a memorable stay.

 Earlier Maldives was a kingdom and the kings promoted Buddhism but since 12 century AD, Islam was adopted as the only religion (they follow the Sunni sect) so much so that it is mandatory for those who wish to acquire Maldivian citizenship to convert to Islam. The official language is Divehi which is a mix of Sanskrit and Arabic. Natives here are simple folk whose main profession involves jobs in resorts/hotels, driving speedboats/cruises/seaplanes or guides and water sports managers. The rest are into local agro industry too.

Adventure activities:

Maldives is famous for its water sports activities by virtue of its low-lying and various other water-friendly features.

If you happen to stay in one of the Ocean or Pool Villas of the resort, your dream to walk around or swim in the shallow ocean bed can be realized. Else, access to the beach allows you to snorkel or swim; for those who like a little more speed and adventure, try water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, in the pristine ocean. If exploring the reefs is up your sleeve then Seabob is the technically advanced powerful toy and the coolest way to indulge in your aqua fantasy. Thrill seekers can go with wind-surfing, scuba-diving and catch sight of sting rays and sharks or soar like a bird to get an aerial view of the Indian Ocean peppered with greenery (islands) as you parasail with expert guidance.

For the less adventurous yet exploring minds – Sunset Dolphin Cruise offers an insight into dolphin behaviour, handline fishing on a Dhoni (a special boat) allows you to experience traditional method of fishing with bait and fishing lines as the Maldivian waters are rich in Tuna, Mahi mahi, Sail fish and Wahoo.

Food and Recreation:

Seafood specialties and live catch are cooked in Sea Salt with global cuisines for breakfast and dinner to suit every guests’ palate being served at Feast while Baan Thai and Asian Tea House take care of oriental food lovers’ choices. Almost every resort offers spa treatments with Maldivian herbal aromatic massages, facials, mudpacks and wraps to soothe exhausted nerves and Shine. The plunge pools in the Pool and Ocean Villas are a great draw since you can swim and enjoy in the seclusion of your private abode.

If you still want to get the city feel, a visit to Male takes care of your retail therapy and you can shop for souvenirs like lacquered artifacts, high quality coral jewelry – even black coral is found here and some pearls. You can visit the Grand Friday Mosque, Victory Square, National Museum, king’s family tomb and catch a glimpse of the President’s Palace.

The Maldives could be a tad expensive destination because practically everything and majorly food related items are brought in from Sri Lanka, India or Australia and a few other countries. Almost everything is imported here yet with their dependency on international resorts/retreat and tourists, it has a clannish and happy population. Poised on live coral reefs and sand bars, Maldivian islands are a picture-postcard paradise for honeymooners and avid leisure travelers for fun, frolic, food and of course great photo ops!

Seven nights in your own Maldivian resort for $6 mln

Want to own a resort island with 78 rooms for seven nights at US$6.25 million? This is what W Maldives, a luxury resort in the Maldives, is offering to its guests under a buyout package called “Extreme Island Takeover”, transforming an island into your own private playground.  The package starts from $4 million for four nights; $4.7 million for five nights and $5.5 million for six nights. Customers get the entire 78 rooms, all dining venues, free flow of food and house beverages, unlimited spa (inside operation hours), unlimited water sports and shared seaplane transfers to and from the resort.

The hotel said that guests who purchase the buyout package ‘Extreme Island Takeover’ will have access to the 78 private escapes located both on the beach and over water – each with its own plunge pool and sundeck; six creative gourmet eateries and lounge bars, including 15 BELOW, the Maldives underground nightclub, literally located 15 steps below the island surface and the over water AWAY® Spa for an ultimate escape.

IHG to manage upcoming Maldives resorts

Singapore-based Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) has inked a management agreement with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) to manage an 83-room resort that will be open in Maldives in three to five years' time.

This will be the third resort that IHG will be managing for HPL. It will mark the first time that IHG will bring its global luxury brand, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, to the Maldives, said Jan Smits, IHG's chief executive for Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA).

The management contract for the upcoming InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort with HPL was inked on Monday. Construction has yet to begin, and neither HPL nor IHG would provide a number on the project's development value.

The other two existing HPL resorts managed by IHG are: Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, comprising 160 villas, which opened in December 2009; and the 148-room Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu which opened in March 2010.

The latest Maldives signing brings IHG's resort development pipeline to 13 across the AMEA region, reflecting a significant expansion programme, said Mr Smits.

Currently, the hotel and resort management chain operates 37 existing resorts across three brands (InterContinental, Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza) in the AMEA region.

HPL's new resort will be located on Maamunagau island, at the southern point of Raa Atoll (also known as the North Maalhosmadulu Atoll). International travellers can take a seaplane directly to the resort from Male's Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

Besides enjoying the clear lagoon and pristine white beach, guests will have a range of food and beverage offerings to choose from at the resort's bar and restaurants.

"Young travellers may indulge in specially tailored meals from the InterContinental Planet Trekkers Menu before going off for an afternoon of fun at the Planet Trekkers Kids Club," IHG said.

InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort will also feature a Club Lounge, pool and spa where guests can lounge and relax. The range of water sports include snorkeling, canoeing and jet skiing at the nearby sea sports centre.

Stephen Lau, chairman, HPL Hotels & Resorts, said: "We see huge potential to grow our resorts business in the Maldives, and Maamunagau island is the perfect setting to develop a luxury InterContinental resort."

As part of HPL's growth strategy, "we continuously seek the right opportunity to expand our portfolio across the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region", he added.

Mr Smits of IHG noted that tourism contributed more than 40 per cent of Maldives' gross domestic product last year, and that "sentiments are positive as the country continues to be one of the world's most highly sought after travel destinations".

Another hotelier who has a presence in Maldives told The Business Times that room rates for Maldives resorts have generally fallen over the past year on the back of weaker demand.

Patronage by Chinese visitors, the number one market, has softened this year amid a weakening economy back home and slight fall in the yuan, among other factors. "Demand from Russia continues to be depressed due to the weak economy and rouble.

On a more positive note, demand from some other European countries has improved but resorts are coming up with more competitive packages to adjust for the weakness in the euro." Room rates in the Maldives are denominated in US dollars.

"That said, this is still a market that a lot of operators want to go to. The 'one resort, one island' policy in Maldives makes resorts here very exclusive compared to say Bali and Mauritius, where you have one big island and many resorts scattered over acres and acres of coastline."

- See more at: http://business.asiaone.com/news/hpl-appoints-ihg-manage-upcoming-83-room-maldives-resort#sthash.DBJZbzN1.dpuf

Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort to welcome World Travel Awards Grand Final 2016

Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, an idyllic-paradise nestled amid lush tropical vegetation in the Maldives, has been selected to host the World Travel Awards Grand Final 2016.

The prestigious red-carpet event will take place on December 2nd, welcoming industry leaders from around the globe to this internationally acclaimed destination.

World Travel Awards President Graham Cooke said: “It is an honour to reveal the World Travel Awards will return to the Maldives in December for our Grand Final 2016.

“This is truly one of the most sought after destinations anywhere on earth, and it will be our pleasure to welcome our nominees to what promises to be the highlight of the tourism calendar.

“Preparations are already underway for the event and I look forward to greeting the leaders of our booming industry to the Maldives later this year.”

With its beautifully designed villas standing over turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and endless sea views the resort if the perfect location to toast the leaders in international hospitality.

“We are honoured to host the Grand Final of World Travel Awards 2016 at Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, and equally delighted to be welcoming the best of the best to this amazing destination.

“Our group, Sun Siyam Resorts, has already won a couple of accolades at the regional ceremonies and cannot wait for the global announcements in December,” said Evgenia Boyankova, Group Director of Business Development, Sun Siyam Resorts.

World Travel Awards, too, will be celebrating, rewarding its global winners at the end of the Grand Tour 2016.

Regional Gala Ceremonies have already taken place in Tanzania and Peru, with stops scheduled in Italy, Jamaica, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates before the end of the year.

Winners from each regional celebration progress to the Grand Final in December.

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.

Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective successes within each key geographical region.

World Travel Awards Gala Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries, and international print and broadcast media.

Maldives to host World Travel Awards Grand Final 2016

If you wonder who is managing the world’s best travel companies, you should fly to Maldives to meet them in person at the Oscars of the travel industry; World Travel Awards Grand Final 2016 which will take place at the Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort on December 2, 2016. The prestigious red-carpet event will welcome industry leaders from around the globe to this internationally acclaimed destination.

World Travel Awards President Graham Cooke said: “It is an honour to reveal the World Travel Awards will return to the Maldives in December for our Grand Final 2016.

“This is truly one of the most sought after destinations anywhere on earth, and it will be our pleasure to welcome our nominees to what promises to be the highlight of the tourism calendar.

“Preparations are already underway for the event and I look forward to greeting the leaders of our booming industry to the Maldives later this year.”

With its beautifully designed villas standing over turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and endless sea views the resort if the perfect location to toast the leaders in international hospitality.

“We are honoured to host the Grand Final of World Travel Awards 2016 at Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, and equally delighted to be welcoming the best of the best to this amazing destination.

“Our group, Sun Siyam Resorts, has already won a couple of accolades at the regional ceremonies and cannot wait for the global announcements in December,” said Evgenia Boyankova, Group Director of Business Development, Sun Siyam Resorts.

World Travel Awards, too, will be celebrating, rewarding its global winners at the end of the Grand Tour 2016.

Regional Gala Ceremonies have already taken place in Tanzania and Peru, with stops scheduled in Italy, Jamaica, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates before the end of the year.

Winners from each regional celebration progress to the Grand Final in December.

Maldives on a budget

The Maldives is one of the most prestigious holiday destinations in the world and a dream honeymoon hotspot.

With power-white beaches and unbelievably crystal-clear waters, it's easy to see why the island country draws thousands of tourists every year.

Many are put off by the hefty price tags of exclusive resorts and the famous over-water bungalows.

But if you're desperate to visit the beautiful archipelago, you'll be thrilled to hear you can get flights and accommodation for under a grand.

Budget travel company Holidaypirates.com has found a 10-night holiday to the Maldives for just £725.

The amazing deal includes return flights from London Heathrow to Male, boat transfers and 10 nights accommodation on the island of Maafushi.

The hotel is the well-reviewed Arena Lodge Maldives, which is rated 4/5 on Tripadvisor and has been awarded the "Certificate of Excellence".

Prices vary slightly depending when you go, but these costing are based on tourists travelling between December 4 and December 15.

The average temperature in the Maldives at this time of year is around 27C, with highs of 29.

This deal is insanely good, so if you fancy a pre-Christmas break in paradise you better get booking fast!

Price breakdown for 2 adults sharing:

Flights – £940 / 2 = £470 per person

Hotel – £426.90 / 2 = £213.45 per person

Shared speed boat transfers – £84 / 2 = £42 per person

Total cost of holiday £1450.90 / 2 = £725 per person

Outrigger helps regenerate coral in the Maldives

Outrigger has embarked on a major coral regeneration project in the Maldives.

Guests at the Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort recently joined resident marine biologist and staff for the initiative, which included presentations in both English and Chinese.

The coral restoration project was originally launched in December 2015, but the resort says that the “El Nino effect” raised water temperatures and killed off the new coral.

Under the latest project, guests helped marine biologist Caterina Fattori reconnect living coral fragments that had been displaced by waves to coconut ropes. They were then attached on laces and to metal frames at depths of seven metres and 13 metres under the surface.

The coral restoration project was initiated by Best Dives Konotta and forms part of the ‘Outrigger OZONE’ – the company’s global marine conservation programme.

John Allanson has been appointed General Manager at Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll

Outrigger Enterprises Group has appointed John Allanson as the general manager of the award-winning Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort, an exclusive sanctuary of over-water bungalows and exquisite villas located within the crystal waters of Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. He will commence his position immediately and will report to Paul Richardson, executive vice president and chief operating officer in Outrigger’s corporate office in Hawaii. Allanson, a UK national, brings to Outrigger 30 years’ experience in hotel and resort management in the Maldives, Vietnam and the UK. Before joining Outrigger, he was the general manager of the Six Senses Con Dao Resort and Spa, a five-star property on Con Dao Island, Vietnam.

Allanson also spent two years as resort manager in the Maldives at the Six Senses Laamu Resort and Spa, a property with 97 villas. For much of his career, Allanson has been a general manager, or in senior management positions including food and beverage, in various high-end UK country hotels, many of them with a spa facility. The new Outrigger general manager has a diploma in Management Studies and earned a scholarship to the General Managers’ Program at Cornell University. He is also a graduate of the International Management Association and a member of the Hotel and Catering International Management Association.

W Maldives Appoints Chef Ilias Kafalis as New Director of Cuisine

Housing five vibrant dining venues in one resort is an uphill struggle, but W Maldives does it effortlessly. With the appointment of Ilias Kafalis as its new Director of Cuisine, they aim to raise the standards even higher as the experienced chef brings his expertise to the Maldives.

With 15 years of knowledge behind him, Chef Ilias has seen the industry in Greece, Cyprus, France, China and Qatar. He joins W Maldives from InterContinental Hotel & Resort - Doha, Qatar.

Born in city of Athens, Chef Ilias holds a degree in Culinary Arts from the Hospitality School of Galaxidi in Greece. His gastronomical career took its baby steps in Nice, France, followed by a three year culinary journey under the helm of a 3* Michelin Chef Alain Ducasse and 2* Michelin Chef Helene Darroze. In Paris he also worked for such luxury catering companies as Potel & Chabot, Saint Clair and Fauchon Epicerie.

“We are ecstatic to have Ilias join our resort and lead our very talented kitchen talents” said Anton Birnbaum, General Manager, W Maldives. “He has tremendous experience, a very impressive resume and possesses excellent leadership and management skills.”

2011 saw Chef Ilias’ talent reaching to millions as he participated in the Greek 2011 edition of the famous cooking show TOP CHEF, where he made it through to the semi-finals. He is also the author of the culinary book “A Look on the Modern Greek Cuisin”.

Famous figures such as Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni, Jacques Chirac and Andrés Iniesta – an FC Barcelona professional football player – have been lucky to have tasted the dishes prepared by the talented Chef.

Chef Ilias believes that this will provide him a new beginning in the Maldives, and aims to create a food culture that will concentrate on sourcing the best of the local produce.

“Taking the lead at W Maldives will truly mark a new beginning for me in the country. I aim to bring here my own menu of French Mediterranean cuisine with a touch of Asian and Arabic flavours. I would like to create a food culture that will concentrate on sourcing the best of the local produce and making everything we do sustainable by using the freshest and organic ingredients possible,” Chef Ilias said.

The private five star island which provides a new cutting edge, contemporary lifestyle experience and an exclusive escape boasts some of the most unique dining experiences in the industry. These include; Kitchen, Fire, Fish, and Private Dining. The first being a bistro, second a beachfront grill, third a seafood specialty and fourth the option to dine in seclusion as the resort takes care of it all.

Kuoni backs Maldives dive clean-up

Tour operator Kuoni has teamed up with a resort in the Maldives to carry out a dive clean-up as part of Make Holidays Greener month.

Instead of a traditional beach clean-up, Kuoni and the Kuramathi Island Resort are holding a clean-up of diving areas on Friday (July 15).

The dive clean-up is being organised from the resort’s main dive school with volunteers collecting debris and rubbish underwear around the resort’s reef.

 

Kuoni reps Darryl Dyer and Joe Kendel, who are both qualified advanced divers, will be among those taking part in the reef clean-up.

 

This will be followed on Saturday (July 16) by a presentation on underwater plastic pollution at the resort’s eco centre by Kuramathi’s resident marine biologist, which will include advice on how to prevent this type of pollution.

 

Kuramathi Island Resort is a Travelife Gold member and is sold exclusively by Kuoni in the UK market.

 

This year’s Make Holidays Greener month is being run by Abta and one of the main initiatives involves beach cleans at resorts around the world.

Special marine activities in July announced by Outrigger in the Maldives

Guests are invited to join new trips, experiences and insights focusing on marine conservation and knowledge, starting in July

Visitors to the Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort in July will be able to join the resort’s in-house marine biologist to participate on a range of activities such as PADI Women Dive Day, Shark Awareness Day, and International Plastic Bag Free Day.

In addition, the property is unveiling a turtle quest trip, stargazing cruise and snorkelling with a marine biologist.

On 3 July, the island’s resident marine biologist Caterina Fattori of Best Dives Maldives will conduct a presentation on marine debris at the resort pool bar. Globally, 80% of marine litter is plastic. Around eight million tons of plastic is dumped into the world’s oceans every year. The majority of this waste comes from China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

For Shark Awareness Day on 14 July Ms Fattori will do a presentation on sharks at the pool bar. Children at the resort will be invited to the Kid’s Club for shark-related ‘edutainment’. There are over 400 types of shark ranging in size from six inches (15cm) to 45 feet (13.5m) around the world. Sharks have been around for 400 million years. They predate dinosaurs.

On 16 July, Outrigger will invite all ladies staying to do a scuba dive, preceded by a free first breath underwater session in the resort pool for beginners.

Guests at the Outrigger can also join a new tour called Turtle Quest which visits a newly discovered Hawksbill turtle family on a nearby reef.

Snorkelling with Ms Fattori will become a regular feature. In each trip she will give a detailed pre-dive briefing on the barrier reef and help with identification of species. She has also introduced sunset snorkelling for insights into a different range of species that can be seen under water in the evening.

Ms Fattori has also been in charge of a coral restoration project at the Outrigger, which is part of Outrigger’s worldwide Ozone (Outrigger’s Zone) marine conservation initiative. Guests can also inspect this by snorkel or scuba dives, accompanied by the marine biologist.

“We can create marine excursions and study trips to suit all levels of interest and diving capability,” says Ms Fattori. “Indeed, quite a few of our guests don’t scuba dive but just enjoy our marine briefing sessions and some snorkelling. We have marine experiences for all levels.”

Enjoy the Maldives in the Monsoon

Maldives; the image that immediately comes to mind is of a beautiful, breezy and sunny paradise, complete with snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing and other such amazing activities. But unfortunately, this weather doesn’t last all year round. If you happen to visit sometime between May and November, you’ll have to face torrential rains, and the absolutely worrisome question, “Now, what do I do?”

That’s why we’ve come up with this list of fun things you can do in Maldives, all year round, and regardless of the weather. But first, let’s check out the advantages of visiting Maldives in the rainy season (yes, there are quite a few)!

Firstly, one of the major advantages of visiting Maldives during off-season is that even rooms in five-star hotels are available at a very low rate. Similarly, the prices of all outdoor activities are slashed, so your vacation will cost you just a fraction of the normal cost.

Secondly, you’ll have the place pretty much to yourself, as the crowds will be missing, so you’ll actually get the peace and quiet that you’re looking for. That’s why the following activities will be perfect for your idyllic sojourn in paradise!

1) Spas

Maldives is famous for its spas, and you’ll find there’s one in every resort. You can pretty much enjoy them in any weather, but you’ll have extra fun when it’s raining outside, and you’re being pampered in the warmth inside.

2) Scuba diving

Yes, scuba diving is very much possible even in the monsoons. The water visibility is reliably high and the variety of marine life is quite astounding. That said, the monsoons can affect the ideal places to scuba dive. Usually, the east side of the atolls is better in the dry season and the west side in the wet.

3) Swimming

At first glance, swimming might seem like an activity for a sunny day, but not when you’re dealing with a luxurious, heated indoor pool. Even if you opt to swim outside, there’s something really magical about swimming in the rain and the water often seems even warmer when you do so. In many ways, it’s even better than swimming in the sun!

Though there are numerous ways of planning your Maldives vacation, it’s always advisable to do it through a travel company that can point you in the right direction, as far as hotels, travel and sightseeing goes.

“Maldives is one of our favourite holiday destinations, regardless of the season, says Nidhi Batra, co-founder of Nirvana Excursions, a boutique travel company based in Navi Mumbai.
“We have an excellent network within the country, that ensures that our travellers get the best deals, whether it’s for a five-star resort or any of the numerous activities and adventures available. We’ve also personally travelled to Maldives innumerable times and hence, can recommend the best places to stay and the most ideal things to do during off-season.”