Maldives Islands

The Beauty of Maldives

2010-12-02T17:11:00.004+11:00

Enjoy the beauty of the one and only Maldives

Maldives: Floating on Cloud Nine

2010-12-02T16:59:00.001+11:00

Maldives: Floating on Cloud Nine

It’s the stuff dreams are made of. The deep blue of the sea punctuated with green and white islands in the sun, each surrounded by a ring of crystal clear water of an unbelievable turquoise hue. Each island can be circumvented in a few minutes, so while you’re there, you feel you’re a Robinson Crusoe lost in some wonderful dream you don’t ever want to wake up from. That’s the magic the Maldives spins on you.

A cluster of 2000 islands in the Indian Ocean, only 200 islands are occupied – so we were told – 20 of them by locals and a staggering 180 by resorts. A trip there and you won’t wonder why. It’s the perfect holiday getaway, whether you’re on your honeymoon, just getting away for a long-deserved break or, like us, setting off on the annual summer holiday with friends. If you’re the kind that firmly believes that going ‘abroad’ must be a place where you can shop till you drop, this isn’t the place for you. This is strictly for the lotus-eater, the pleasure-seeker, the beach-bum who wants to do nothing more tiring than eat, float on a calm sea and sleep.

How do you get to Paradise? You can fly from Trivandrum like we did – it’s a one-hour flight – or you could fly from Bombay or Delhi via Colombo. Make sure you get a window seat so you can gasp at your first sight of the islands. You land on an island near the capital, Male. (Just remember, the Maldives is a Muslim country so make sure you don’t carry any liquor or pork products. This rule of course does not apply to what is served at the resorts.) From there, the resort takes over. We had booked with the Taj Coral Reef. Their staff led us to a speedboat that looked like something out of a James Bond movie and that’s exactly how we felt a few minutes later as we were skimming over the sea, the wind in our hair, passing an island here and there on our way. It took us 50 minutes to get to the resort. A wonderful welcome drink later (an exotic combination of passion fruit and mango), we were led to our rooms. Beach villas they called them. You walked out your door and your feet crunched on the white sand with the water lapping at your feet. We couldn’t wait so it was on with our swimsuits and into the water, which was so clear you could see your toes! And, believe it or not, there’s a host of fish to welcome you in all shapes, sizes and colors. (Another piece of advice – take a pair of light canvas shoes along as you could get your feet cut by the bits of coral lying around.)

As always, the Taj chefs outdid themselves with the buffet breakfasts, lunches and dinners. There was a gentle reminder that if we didn’t like the food we could ask for Indian fare. What was there not to like? And every meal ended with desserts fit for a king.

This feeling of being on Cloud Nine went on for the next six days. The kids always found plenty to do, the adults lazed in the sun, ate, drank and were merry. A one-day trip to Male was the only alteration in the routine. A city of cobble-stoned roads, fancy cars that drove carefully along the narrow streets never blowing their horns, friendly people and a fish market that was neat and tidy!

If you are a good swimmer, there’s a lot you can do at the resort. You can hire equipment and go snorkeling, hire canoes, go deep sea diving or wind surfing. Part of the package was a night fishing expedition. The coral around the island was interesting and we watched footage shot by the resort’s diving instructor that was equal to anything you would watch on the Discovery or National Geographic channels.

One interesting diversion every evening was the feeding of the stingray by the hotel staff. Without fail, these beautiful creatures would come an hour ahead of time to wait for their meal – black, gray, white, golden, speckled – gliding like angels in the shallow water, graceful as dancers.

The weather, like in all perfect holidays, was magical. A light drizzle now and then, but otherwise a perfectly blue sky to complement the wonderful color of the sea. As we sped back on the speedboat, our cheeks were wet with more than just the salty sea spray. It’s so hard to wave goodbye to something perfect. One could almost echo the sentiments of yore and say, ’If ever there was a Paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this.’

About the Author

Writer and Rewriter

http://ohmtalk.com/

(ArticlesBase SC #121523)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Maldives: Floating on Cloud Nine

2010-11-12T10:40:00.004+11:00

Dhidhoofinholu-White Sands MALDIVES

To learn more about Maldives go to our website:
http://maldives-islands.mareks-tips.com/

Sunset on Maldives

2010-10-19T19:14:00.006+11:00

Watch a beautiful sunset on Maldives

To learn more about Maldives go to our website:
http://maldives-islands.mareks-tips.com/

New shuffle for veteran Angsana General Managers in Maldives and Laos

2006-11-30T11:25:00.000+11:00

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

In the latest round of appointments, Angsana Resorts & Spa are pleased to welcome Hotel Manager Mr Richard Neo to Maison Souvannaphoum Hotel and General Manager Mr Philippe Cavory to the newly opened Angsana Resort & Spa Maldives Velavaru. In time for busy year-end festivities, the two pioneering managers have assumed their new postings effective 1 November 2006.
French Finesse
Mr Philippe Cavory heads to the Maldives fresh from his opening experience at Maison Souvannaphoum Hotel in Laos, a boutique heritage hotel under the Colours of Angsana banner. Establishing the hotel’s operations and services since September 2004, Mr Cavory led the hotel to a blazing first year, winning red-hot accolades and awards for the property such as the prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Awards 2006 in Marketing – Hotel and Resort; and the coveted Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Hot List 2005.

Mr Cavory’s challenge is to guide the 79-villa Angsana Velavaru to new heights as the largest island resort in the Banyan Tree portfolio in the Maldives. Angsana Velavaru offers a cool combination of marine biodiversity with an upcoming Marine Laboratory, wedding facilities and acclaimed Angsana Spa treatments.

Singaporean Expertise
Mr Richard Neo replaces Mr Cavory at Maison Souvannaphoum Hotel, bringing with him a wealth of expertise borne from driving Banyan Tree’s first resort foray in China in March 2005. Mr Neo established and pioneered operations at remote Banyan Tree Ringha, the unique ecological mountain resort that has won numerous accolades for its bold design in conserving heritage Tibetan farmhouses.

Mr Neo will be contributing his ideas and vision for moving forward at Maison Souvannaphoum Hotel, the flagship Colours of Angsana property which is set to raise the bar for exotic travels in IndoChina as more travellers visit the UNESCO World Heritage destination of Luang Prabang.
(read entire article)
=====================
P.S. Download Free Video
Documentary About Maldives

Luxury and beauty

2006-10-27T16:32:00.000+10:00

Luxury and beauty

Tamara McLean

October 25, 2006
Page 1 of 2 | Single page
Copyright © 2006. The Sydney Morning Herald.

There's something deliciously satisfying about walking around an island.
And one lined with white sand and surrounded by marble blue water in the middle of the exotic Maldives has even more appeal.

A stroll along the smooth shores will take just ten minutes and there's no rush - you're on holiday with nowhere to be, nothing to do.

That's life on Kani, a speck of self-contained luxury in a sea of privately-owned exclusive atolls in the Indian Ocean 650km southwest of Sri Lanka.

The Indian Ocean archipelago often attracts the highbrow set but tiny Kani is run by the French outfit Club Med, famed for its all inclusive, more affordable resort concept.

Recently given a $20 million post-tsunami facelift, the low-lying fish-shaped isle has been redesigned with romance in mind.

The standard rooms are just standard rooms but if you can afford the step up to a Balinese beach villa - with its jacuzzi and waterfront position - you won't be disappointed.

Better still, splash out and settle yourself into a lagoon suite balanced on stilts over water: a love nest for honeymooners.

The sweeping verandah views to the vast big blue and floating sundeck with your own private ocean access make the experience something special.

And while you're there, don't forget a laze in the chic deep bath as you look out to sea, your favourite song playing on the stereo.

You may hardly want to leave but there are other spots worth a visit, namely the Velhi dining hall for its sumptuous banquets.

Cuisine is an island highlight and everything from local seafood specialities to French and Sri Lankan-inspired fare is laid out three times daily.

And because your meals - like accommodation and air fares - are paid for up-front, indulgence can't be helped.

You'll also be able to help yourself to many of the drinks at the island's two bars, and both are relaxing spots to while away some time.

They're not free but the spa treatments can't be missed, most notably the dreamy Bali-inspired foot reflexology session with your choice of oils.

Other activities are possible for a price such as scuba diving:- to see turtles, manta rays and other deep-sea life - and shopping visits to the capital Male, 30 minutes away by speedboat.

But for the most, the pleasures are free.

The nightly entertainment provided by Club Med staff can be a bit much if you're not into singalongs and amateur theatre but there's plenty more to enjoy.

(read entire article)
*************************************
P.S. Download Free Video
Documentary About Maldives

Maui falls from top, no longer best isle

2006-10-20T13:12:00.000+10:00

Maui falls from top, no longer best isle

By HARRY EAGAR, Staff Writer
Copyright © 2006 The Maui News.

NEW YORK – Maui fell off its perch as the Best Island in the World this week, finishing second to the Maldives, which are not one island but about 200 tiny islets a few hundred miles from Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean.

It’s fortunate that the tourists who read Conde Nast Traveler magazine like the Maldives, because aside from tourism, the only export is a local form of bagoong popular in India. It is also the lowest country in the world – the highest hill is less than 8 feet above sea level – and the government is alarmed that rising sea levels will erase it within a century.

“Unknown places, they’re poppin’,” said Terryl Vencl, executive director of the Maui Visitors Bureau, who was in New York to receive Maui’s award as Best Pacific Island for the 16th straight year. Maui didn’t fall very far – only to second among the world’s best islands, with a score of 90.3, compared with Maldives’ 91.5.

That total score also made Maldives the highest-rated destination in the world in the magazine’s Readers Choice poll. It’s a prize Maui has been accustomed to having. “I yearn to make sure we get it back,” said Vencl.

At the same time, Maldives is not nearly as much competition for Maui as lower-rated but bigger and closer resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean – or even Kauai, which was ranked the second best Pacific island.

The complete list of winners will not be revealed until Conde Nast Traveler’s November issue is on newsstands Tuesday, but Four Seasons Resort Lana’i, The Lodge at Koele was picked by 21,000 readers as the top resort in the Pacific Rim. Don’t rush over yet; the lodge is closed for renovations.

“We are thrilled to be recognized by the savvy readers of Conde Nast Traveler,” said Mark Hellrung, general manager of the resort.

“This is a great way to launch The Lodge (as a Four Seasons resort), and we look forward to celebrating this with our guests in the beautiful upcountry of Lanai.”

The Maldives was not really on Vencl’s radar screen, although she never expected that Maui would lose its top ranking.

Maui has been a Conde Nast favorite since the reader poll began 19 years ago, and when the Best Island in the World category was opened, Maui won 12 years in a row.

Maui also won the more recent Travel?? magazine poll honor for the first eight years before dropping to third best in the world the past three years. “Many destinations are thrilled just to make the list, and we topped it for 12 consecutive years,” said Vencl. “That’s an incredible run.”

In the editors’ comments read at the awards ceremony at the American Museum of Natural History, Vencl said Maldives was singled out as the best among an increasingly popular list of “unknown places,” or as Conde Nast Traveler put it, its lists show an even greater global variety and depth than ever before.

The Maldives receive about half a million tourists a year. The great leap forward by the Maldives, which were mostly underwater in the great tsunami of 2004, just shows how stiff the competition can be, Vencl said. “Being number two is not chump change. We’re still happy to be right up there,” she said.

Maui remains the only contender to finish at the top of its category 19 years in a row. Other Conde Nast Traveler favorites such as Singapore Airlines (top international route airline) and San Francisco (top U.S. city) have won 18 times.

The Lodge at Koele will reopen Nov. 15 after the first phase of a $50 million renovation to go with the rebranding.

Harry Eagar can be reached at heagar@mauinews.com.

*************************************
P.S. Download Free Video
Documentary About Maldives

Hotels On Every Island

2006-10-15T18:20:00.000+10:00

Hotels On Every Island

By Phillip Wellman
©2006 MinivanNews

October 14, 2006

The Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has announced plans to build hotels on most of the country’s inhabited islands.

In a statement made on Saturday the company’s managing director, Mohmed Solih, said that building hotels and guesthouses throughout the Maldives would improve the economies of the atolls.

Although current government regulations prohibit publicly owned companies from establishing tourist resorts on populated islands, there is no similar stipulation for the construction of hotels.

“There are many who visit the atolls for many different reasons,” said Solih,” and there are no means for these visitors to stay.”

This latest announcement follows a recent decision by the MTDC to sell 800,000 of its shares as part of a joint venture following Ramazan.

In July, shares in the company went up for sale for the first time and already a million have been sold, which has earned MTDC Rf 100m.

But the MTDC’s legality has been under constant question, which has resulted in a shareholder suing the company earlier this week.

Nazeeha Ahmed filed the action under article 73 of the Companies Act, which states that: “a member of a company may apply for a court order… if there is a prejudice to the harmony of the members or if the affairs of the company are managed in a manner detrimental to the rights of a member.”

According to Nazeeha, potential buyers in MTDC stock were assured that the company’s board of directors would consist of four government executives and five from the public.

Currently, all of the board’s seven directors have been government-appointed.

Evidence of the board’s dishonesty was revealed when Crown Group- a company owned by MTDC chairman, Hussein Afif, was given developing contracts without any prior announcement for bids.

“The chairman and the managing director are acting like they own the entire company,” Nazeeha said in her statement to the court.

In addition to receiving disapproval from shareholders, this “temporary board”, which has already been in existence for several months, has also been condemned by the Ministry of Trade.

Its Registrar of Companies Director, Idham Muiz Adnan, said that the development of resorts by the MTDC is being solely handled by a handful of economic advisors, which will almost certainly cause huge implications in the future.

(read entire article)

*************************************
P.S. Download Free Video Documentary
About Maldives

Is Islam A Threat To The Maldives?

2006-10-09T11:46:00.000+10:00

Is Islam A Threat To The Maldives?

By Taimour Lay
©2006 MinivanNews

Under the headline ''Stormclouds over the Indian Ocean: Behind the veil in the Maldives'', Britain’s Independent newspaper published a feature on Thursday which warned of the ''radical'' form of Islam gaining popularity in the archipelago.

Witnessing the "decadent" lifestyles of wealthy tourists, Meera Selva wrote, is turning Maldivians against western mores.

Rogue preachers, armed with "dangerously persuasive arguments", are preying on isolated and socially conservative islands.

Increasing numbers of women are wearing the veil, and withdrawing from active roles in society.

Arab donors are exporting ideas and cash in an attempt to undermine the Maldives’ traditionally tolerant and inclusive strain of Sunni Islam.

President Gayoom, the article maintained, is seizing on Islam as a last support for his ailing regime, branding foreigners as Christian missionaries and demanding political quiescence under the guise of "religious unity".

But how accurate a portrait of religious trends here has the Independent newspaper given its readers?

The increasing popularity of "conservative" Islam across the Maldives cannot be denied, but there is no consensus over its actual extent, and what is precisely fuelling it.

The government blames foreign preachers. The opposition blames Gayoom and the politics of control. Other analysts point to broader economic and sociological changes that may, or may not, prove reversible in the medium term.

While more women are undoubtedly wearing the veil, in Male’ and on smaller islands, it does not immediately follow that they are being systematically forced out of positions of prominence in society.

"We should first distinguish between women who are wearing the veil and those who are adopting the traditional middle eastern hijab," says Attorney-General Hassan Saeed, whose book Freedom of Religion, Apostasy and Islam, published in 2004, calls for "absolute" freedom of religion to be permitted in modern Muslim societies and says punishments for apostasy should be discarded.

"And if you look at the number of women working in the professions and gaining a good education, then it’s hard to say that they are playing a lesser role in society," Saeed argues.

But Saeed does accept there is a problem of "extremism" in some places.

When he points the finger at "foreigners", I ask him who these people are and how many are operating in the country. The Maldives is too small a place for the government to claim ignorance.

But claim ignorance he does.

"We don’t know," Saeed maintains. "We are investigating."

He ascribes the rise of conservative Islam to the loosening of restrictions on freedom of expression after 2004.

(read entire article)

*************************************
P.S. Download Free Video Documentary
About Maldives

Professor takes hospitality expertise to Maldives

2006-10-06T19:07:00.000+10:00

Professor takes hospitality expertise to Maldives

By Matthew Trumbull
Copyright © 2006

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Alone in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Republic of Maldives boasts clear blue seas, solitary sandy beaches and remote island resorts. The qualities that make the island nation a perfect postcard tourist destination, however, also made it vulnerable when the tsunami struck its shores in December 2004, putting a quarter of its island resorts out of service.

In a nation where two-thirds of the jobs are related to tourism, rebuilding the hospitality industry to its pre-tsunami strength has been a critical concern for all citizens and residents and soon they will be receiving a helping hand from Manchester, N.H. Ravi Pandit, a hospitality professor at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, wants to boost tourism to Maldives and he was recently awarded a Fulbright scholarship to help them prepare future leaders and managers for the hospitality and tourism industry there.

The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, which awards the grants to 6,000 scholars each year. The grant will allow Pandit to work in Maldives for five months beginning this past August. He is doing his own research to identify present and future needs in the industry, and teaching classes and helping the Maldives College of Higher Education fine-tune and develop a four-year hospitality program to replace their current diploma program.

“I’m like the academic ambassador [from Southern New Hampshire] to the Maldives,” Pandit said. “It’ll be a great opportunity to develop the relationship between our two institutions.”

Pandit is certainly the right man for the job. He is not only the program coordinator of the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Management at Southern New Hampshire, but he is also the chair of the school’s hospitality and tourism management program there. When Pandit first arrived at Southern New Hampshire in 1999, he was the first doctorate in its hospitality program. He was instrumental in overhauling the undergraduate hospitality and tourism program, and he developed a master’s degree program in hospitality and tourism management.

The work he will be doing in Maldives will draw on this experience as he trains the faculty, shapes the hospitality program and develops coursework at Maldives College. He will also be doing plenty of his own research and visiting the many island resorts to determine what skills managers desire of graduates coming out of the college.

Though the hospitality industry in Maldives has its own unique flavor, he said, it is still managed in a western style. “Working in the Maldives will provide me with a unique opportunity to teach in a totally different socio-cultural, economic and political environment,” Pandit said.

( read entire article )
*************************************
P.S. Download Free Video Documentary
About Maldives

Disappointment in paradise

2006-10-05T14:56:00.000+10:00

I just come across this interesting letter written from the outsider’s point of view.

An Outsider’s View

Dear people of the Maldives,

My name is Jonas. I am a German citizen and have been a guest in your country for the last three weeks. I came following the invitation of a friend, who is a human rights activist here.

In the past few days I have spent time talking to all kinds of people about the current political situation as well as their perception of the way human rights are treated in this country. These conversations have opened my eyes and helped draw a picture of the Maldives that heavily diverges from the holiday paradise that travel catalogues in Europe promise.

Last night I again followed an invitation. I joined the MDP commemoration at the artificial beach and watched the theatre performance that was devoted to the incidents three years ago. I must confess I did not understand a single word of what has been said there. But listening to the voice of Evan Naseem’s brother and mother, and later on watching the play, deeply moved me.

(read entire letter)

*************************************
P.S. Download Free Video Documentary
About Maldives

New ecological beauty in the Maldives - ALiLA Villas

2006-10-04T16:36:00.000+10:00

ALiLA Villas an ecological beauty in the Maldives

The isles of Maldives are like a magnet for travellers. Its maze of lagoons and reefs in azure waters is the natural beauty that ALiLA Hotels and Resorts strive to protect as they bring it to the attention of the world.

In 2007, ALiLA Hotels and Resorts and award-winning SCDA Architects will share the Maldives with the new ALiLA Villas Hadahaa and Lonudhua.
Principal architect Chan Soo Khian is a Yale-trained architect and has an illustrious history with Asian architecture, including the Dua Residence condominium in Kuala Lumpur, the KL Gold and Country Club, and the award winning Ladyhill in Singapore.

“I relate to Alila’s operating philosophy of creating an ecological and luxurious resort,” said Chan. “The island sites at the southern atoll of the Maldives are spectacular locales with excellent diving.”

Chan has not just placed a building onto the spectacular atoll; he has melded the culture of the place into the physical structure. He has designed the villas so that they engage with nature by making sure that they do not conceal the best of the area, but complement and enhance it.

“I design with a humanistic approach that responds to the climatic and cultural conditions of the context,” said the architect. So much so that even the two jetties and an arrival point were provided just to deal with tidal changes, as well as developing a rainwater harvesting system that “ensures the pollution to the island is minimalised.”

While the environment is a top priority for ALiLA, they also make the wellbeing of the guests a main concern. ALiLA Villas will feature Spa ALiLa with exciting spa concepts that integrate luxurious fittings and stunning settings.

ALiLA Villas embrace the ecological, the contemporary, the cultural, and the luxurious to ensure the most complete experience of the Maldives that any one could ever have.

*************************************
P.S.: Download Free Video Documentary
About Maldives

Angsana Resort and Spa - Maldives

2006-10-04T16:29:00.000+10:00

Angsana Resort and Spa - Maldives

As ever with any spa resort spa prefaced by the word Angsana, the touchy-feely part of this operation is exceptional. The Thai masseuse thankfully speaks little English thus sparing us the tedium of faux knowledge. You know the drill - “this oil contains notes of fresh frangipani with citrus undertones to awaken your senses” spoken in the sort of hushed tones reserved for sanctified grounds. Nevertheless aromatherapy is used extensively and skilfully at Angsana, just without the unnecessary commentary.
The woman in reception will just ask you to name your pleasure and the practitioner only wants to know if you’d like that massage hard, medium or soft. Hard means hard too as I found out but it was a full 10 minutes later before I could gather enough air in my squeezed lungs to squeak “Maybe medium or even soft now.”
(read entire review)

Promotional series draw Indians to Maldives

2006-10-04T16:21:00.000+10:00

Promotional series draw Indians to Maldives

A week-long series of promotional events have been held in India to further develop the Indian tourist market for the Maldives. The highlights for these events include a luncheon for the Indian travel trade and media in Bangalore, a press and travel trade luncheon in Mumbai and the infamous Maldivian Evening in Mumbai. The events were jointly organized by the Maldives Tourism Promotion Board and Srilankan Airlines; a strategic partner of the Maldives tourism.
The luncheon meeting held in The Leela Palace, Bangalore was aimed at introducing the Maldives tourism to the travel trade and the opinion leaders in Bangalore. This event was hosted by the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation of the Maldives Mr. Abdul Hameed Zakariyyaa and discussions were held about the joint initiatives of the Maldives and Sri Lankan airlines to promote the Maldives in Bangalore.
A press conference headed by the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation of the Maldives Dr. Mahamood Shougee and attended by the High Commissioner of the Maldives Lieutenant General (Retired) Anbaree Abdul Sattar, executives from Sri Lankan Airlines and participants from the Maldives tourism industry was organised at the Taj Presidents Hotel in Colaba, Mumbai as part of this week long promotions. The key issues raised during the press conference include the air connectivity between Maldives and major cities in India and future marketing activities. Seven journalists and 120 travel agents were present for the conference and the luncheon which followed it.
Dr. Shougee also headed the Maldivian delegation to the Bollywood star-studded Maldivian Evening in Mumbai. In his inaugural speech for the evening Dr. Shougee highlighted the importance of India as a tourism generating market for the Maldives and thanked the key participants of the Maldives Evening in Mumbai. On top of the agenda was an announcement by Hussain Shihab, the Minister of State for Arts of Maldives, on the government’s plan to develop a studio island in the Maldives.
“We are delighted to announce that we have plans to develop a studio island for the international film community. I hope that Indian film community as the largest entertainment communities in the world will frequent to the Maldives to take advantage of the most beautiful county in the world” said Minister Shihab.
This event was held in Mumbai’s J.W. Marriott where over 400 people from the travel trade, media, and representatives from the fashion & film industry of India attended the evening.
The Maldives Tourism Promotion Board expects to have an increasing the Indian tourists arrivals to the Maldives in the coming years. In the year 2005, Maldives welcomed 10,260 tourists from India and by the end of July this year 6,946 Indian tourists visited the Maldives from India. Srilankan airlines connects to 10 cities in India with over 100 frequencies a week via Colombo and Srilankan airlines has 21 weekly frequencies between Male and Colombo creating a good link between the Maldives and India.
Michael Verikios
*************************************
P.S.: Download Free Video Documentary
About Maldives

5th resort in Maldives acquired by John Keells

2006-08-22T11:56:00.000+10:00

John Keells acquires 5th resort in Maldives

20 August 2006

MALE, Aug 20 (HNS) – Sri Lanka's largest hotel operator, John Keells Holdings have said they have picked up their fifth Maldivian resort for 12.5 million dollars.

The acquisition was carried out through their fully owned subsidiary, Travel Club (Pte) Ltd.

Manager of John Keells Maldivian resorts Channa Jayasundara told Haveeru Daily that the latest resort acquisition followed discussions between John Keells and Ellaidhoo.

“For sometime the resort was available in the market. So we talked to the resort owner and a deal was fixed,” Channa said.

He added that if any other resort owners come along with interesting proposals than more resorts could be added to the John Keells chain of resorts.

A statement from John Keells said: "This investment will further increase our exposure to the lucrative Maldivian leisure industry and is the second investment to be made in Maldives during the financial year 2006/07,".

Located in Alifu Alifu Atoll, Ellaidhoo Tourist Resort is around 40 kilometers away from Male.

The island which is 300 meters long and 280 meters wide, presently houses 78 standard and 16 garden rooms; a restaurant, bar and a health club.

The resort also has additional capacity to house 17 water bungalows, the construction of which would be undertaken next year.

Some of the best diving sites in the Maldives are found in the vicinity of Ellaidhoo such as Fish Head, Maya Thila, Halaveli Wreck and Fesdhoo Wreck.

Besides Ellaidhoo and Validhu, JKHs Maldivian properties include Hakuraa Club, which has a mix of water and beach bungalows, Alidhoo Coral Garden Resort & Spa, 100 room facility now under construction and schedule to open for guests from January 2007 and Dhonveli Beach & Spa, which has 150 bungalows, recently taken on a 15-year sub-lease for 21.8 million dollars.

JKH is presently Sri Lanka's largest hotel operator commanding over 1,400 rooms spread over 13 hotels, including the Maldives.
*************************************
Download Free Video Documentary
About Maldives

14 new routes announced by Air Sahara

2006-08-18T10:54:00.000+10:00

Air Sahara announces 14 new routes: "Air Sahara announces 14 new routes
REUTERS
Posted online: Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 2009 hours IST
Updated: Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 2017 hours IST

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 17: Air Sahara, whose ranking took a hit after a failed takeover deal, announced operations to 14 new destinations including two international routes by December as part of plans to have the largest network and a market share of 12-13 per cent by next year.

'The expansion plan begins from tomorrow and will continue till December 16.

During this time, we would be introducing flights to Guanghou (China) and Maldives on the international sector and would connect Delhi with Port Blair,' Air Sahara President Alok Sharma said.

Admitting that the market share had dipped in the recent times, Sharma said with the addition of new destinations, the airlines was aiming to regain its earlier share of 12-13 per cent by next year.

He said the airlines would be operating a daily flight to Maldives through Colombo, besides connecting Dhaka as well on the international sector and strengthening its metro network by increasing flights to Kolkata and Hyderabad.

With this expansion plan, Air Sahara would be connecting Delhi to six international destinations in addition to its code-share flights with American Airlines, Sharma said.

Asked whether the permission had been granted by the authorities concerned, Sharma said it had applied for approvals three weeks back and there was no restriction from the government.

While the tentative schedule to fly to the Chinese city was November seven, it was October 31 for Maldives, he said and added that Air Sahara would be the first one to apply once Pakistan allowed operations of private airliners.

Referring to resumption of its London service, Sharma said: 'we have lost the slot and we will be again approaching the Heathrow Airport for a fresh one.'

Air Sahara had stopped its flight and surrendered the slot after reaching a deal to merge the airline with Jet Airways in January. However, the agreement was called off in June this year.

Asked whether the airline had sufficient funds to connect so many destinations, Sharma said: 'these investments were made in 2005 and now they are only being executed. Its time to reap dividends.'

'We also plan to consolidate on flying more to mini metros like Chandigarh, Indore, Bhopal, Vadodra, Raipur and Nagpur and tourist destinations like Jodhpur, Khajuraho, Port Blair, Trivandrum and Udaipur,' the Air Sahara President said, adding this would give the airline the rare distinction of flying to 27 domestic sectors from Delhi.

On whether the airline had sufficient number of pilots and aircraft to engage itself in such a huge network, Sharma said: 'we have 27 aircraft including 18 new generation Boeing and two more Boeing 737-800 are coming by September 21.

'As far as pilots are concerned, 50 per cent of those who had resigned in the aftermath of the merger with Jet Airways, have resumed their duties with us and more were expected to come back,' he said.

He said the load factor of the airline had also increased from 60 per cent to 78 per cent subsequent to the deal with Jet Airways falling through."
***********************************
Download Free Video Documentary
About Maldives

Qatar studies airline plan for Maldives

2006-08-08T17:40:00.000+10:00

Gulf Times – Qatar’s top-selling English daily newspaper - Qatar: "Qatar studies airline plan for Maldives
Published: Monday, 7 August, 2006, 11:29 AM Doha Time

MALE: President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has said that Qatari officials are ready to begin deliberations on establishing a national airline in the Maldives.President Gayoom visited Qatar last week.

In an interview with Television Maldives after his return home, the president said discussions with HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani had centred on fostering closer bilateral ties.

He said HH the Emir had assured him that senior Qatari officials would conduct a preliminary visit to Maldives soon, with the aim of identifying areas for enhanced co-operation and assistance.

He also said that he had briefed the Emir on key areas of the post-tsunami recovery efforts in which immediate additional funding was needed, as well as details of the budget deficit that was incurred as a result of the tsunami.

The president said that he was informed of the interest among the Qatari business community to invest in the Maldives’ tourism industry.

The president said that Qatari officials had completed a feasibility study on establishing a national airline for Maldives. He added that the Emir had assured him that they were now ready to start deliberations on the project.

During his visit to Qatar, President Gayoom met with a delegation of leading businessmen in Qatar.

Stressing on the fact that foreign investments were vital for Maldives, the president said that Maldives had an open-door policy for investments by foreigners. He stated that increasing investments was one of his foremost priorities.

He highlighted opportunities for investing in the tourism sector of the country and assured that tourism investments by foreigners could be further enhanced with the recently established Maldives Tourism Development Corporation.

The president also met with the Maldivians employed at the Qatari national airline, the Qatar Airways."
***********************************
Download Free Video Documentary
About Maldives

Maldives Aid Opens Desalinisation Plant in Haa Alif, Filladhoo

2006-08-07T15:15:00.000+10:00

Maldives Aid Desalinisation Plant Opens in Haa Alif, Filladhoo: "Maldives Aid Desalinisation Plant Opens in Haa Alif, Filladhoo
By Minivan News
August 4, 2006

For the small fishing community of Haa Alif, Filladhoo, like many of its neighbouring islands, the tsunami left in its wake a trail of destruction.

But in Filladhoo, the tidal wave not only destroyed people’s homes and boats; it also robbed the island of one of its most precious resources: water.

However, on Friday - for the first time since December 26, 2004 - islanders awoke to a plentiful supply of safe, clean drinking water thanks to a new desalinization plant, donated by the UK-based charity Maldives Aid.

During a ceremony on Thursday, Maldives Aid coordinator Mariyam Seena formally donated the plant to the people of Fillandhoo.

In a moving speech, Atoll Chief Mohamed Rasheed said: “Maldives Aid should be considered close friends who are eager to help people in need. And we all should maintain a close friendship with them.”

After the speech, Adam Mohamed from the Island Committee switched on the desalinisation plant on behalf of the community. Shortly after, people raced to the fresh water taps to drink the water and many commented on its fine taste.

According to Minivan Radio editor Fathimath Shaheeda, who traveled to Fillandhoo to witness the ceremony: “The opening was very emotional because after a long time the people finally have access to fresh water.”

Maldives Aid said it took “months of fundraising and hard work with the island community of Filladhoo and Static, the company providing the desalinisation plant, to give the people their long awaited fresh water.”

But Seena said in the end, the project was worth all the hard work: “It went really well. The plant house area is nicely done with trees planted around the boundary and white sand. Over 200 people showed up to the opening ceremony and the atmosphere was great. People were really touched.”"
===================================
Download Free Video Documentary
About Maldives

Honeymoon on an exclusive dream island in the Maldives.

2006-08-01T12:02:00.000+10:00

SundayMirror.co.uk - News - EXCLUSIVE: ANT'S ONE & ONLY:
"30 July 2006

EXCLUSIVE: ANT'S ONE & ONLY

EXCLUSIVE 800 pound-a-night villa on honeymoon

By Grant Hodgson

NEWLYWED TV star Ant McPartlin is spending his honeymoon on an exclusive dream island in the Maldives.

Ant, 30, and bride Lisa, 29, arrived at the six-star One & Only resort at Reethi Rah in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday.

The couple are spending 800 pound a night on the luxurious beach villa where they even have their own butler.

The resort has four miles of coastline, 40 swimming pools, four yachts, five restaurants and a spa. An insider at the Reethi Rah told the Sunday Mirror: 'It only opened a few months ago and it has been designed to be one of the most beautiful and romantic places on the planet."
********************************
Download Free Video Documentary
About Maldives

New Oberoi brand luxury hotels will be built in the Maldives

2006-07-30T13:28:00.000+10:00

Oberoi to build 12 luxurious properties in India and abroad > > Business > The Oberois ,East India Hotels,PRS Oberoi ,Kolkata, Maldives , Dubai,Singapore,Cambodia,Egypt: "The Oberois have announced plans to build 12 luxurious properties in India and abroad. Of these, four will be owned by their company East India Hotels, and the others, managed by them, reports CNBC-TV18.

East India Hotels, EIH, Chairman, PRS Oberoi is addressing shareholders at the company's annual general meeting in Kolkata. After many years, the Oberois have embarked on an aggressive expansion plan. EIH, he said, had got into agreements with companies in India and abroad to set up as many as 12 new properties.

PRS Oberoi, said that several hotels will be opened in the next few years. “New Oberoi brand luxury hotels will be built in Singapore, Goa, Gurgaon, Cambodia, in the Maldives and in Dubai.'"
=======================
Download Free Video Documentary
About Maldives

Barefoot Luxury in the Maldives

2006-07-12T15:39:00.000+10:00

By Jim Keeble

Is a naked-toed luxury holiday worth the price of a small compact car? Could you not get a cheap flight to somewhere beachy, take off your shoes, find a wooden cabin and a man to cook you curry, for a fraction of the cost?

-----------------
They’ve stolen my shoes. After thirteen hours on a plane, a smiling man has placed them firmly into a bag labelled “No News, No Shoes” and pulled the draw-string tight. I am now barefoot in the Maldives. I feel distinctly uncomfortable. Some people have a thing about their thighs, stomach or numerous chins. Personally, I can’t stand my feet. They’re big and hairy, a combination that’s rarely attractive outside a zoo.

This winter-sun season, “Barefoot Luxury” is the new buzz-word. Every expensively exotic beach holiday worth its sand is describing itself as a purveyor of “Shoeless Chic”, “Sand-In-Your-Toes Simplicity,” “Robinson Crusoe Relaxation”, or “Stripped Tootsy Extravagance”. Okay, I made the last one up, but you get the picture.

There’s even a new tour company called ‘Barefoot Luxury’ whose brochure attempts to sum up the concept:

“As our name implies you may experience the true nature of the places you’re visiting by walking barefoot, but luxury will never be more than a step away."
(read entire article)

Boost in turism to the Maldives

2006-07-07T18:35:00.000+10:00

World tourism sees an up-turn - Just the Flight: "Significant improvements in the number of international tourists visiting the South East Asian countries hit by the December 2004 tsunami have been recorded this year.

According to the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) the country which has witnessed the greatest boost to its tourism figures in the first quarter of 2006 has been the Maldives, with the number of international tourists visiting up 97 per cent.

Similarly Thailand has seen a 29 per cent boost in visitor numbers and Sri Lanka a 25 per cent rise.

The United Nations specialised agency reported however, that due to the earthquake which struck in May, Indonesia's recovery has not been as successful."
===================================

Download Free Video Documentary
About Maldives

Not a free trade area

2006-07-06T12:21:00.000+10:00

Business Standard / New Delhi

July 05, 2006

"The long-pending South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) pact finally came into force on July 1, sans fanfare. That should cause no surprise, since none of the seven countries (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives) that constitute the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and thus the membership of SAFTA, anticipates any major economic benefits immediately, though these might well come in the medium to long term. One possibility is the development of a regional energy grid, as some of the member-countries are surplus in power and other forms of energy. In theory, SAFTA can also pave the way for cross-border movements of labour, services and investment.

Unfortunately, all this is a far cry at the moment as even the movement of goods is blocked by issues that are mostly unrelated to trade and commerce. As it is, the total trade between these seven countries accounts for less than 5 per cent of their combined international trade. This is in sharp contrast to the situation in Europe, where mutual trade is about 55 per cent of the total trade of the countries in the European Union (EU). As such, even if SAFTA leads to a doubling or even tripling of intra-regional trade, its impact on the economies of these countries will remain limited."
=================================

Download Free Video Documentary
About Maldives

Desert Islands De Luxe

2006-07-05T17:34:00.000+10:00

By John Borthwick

The blue abyss beyond the reef is littered with mug lair fish of every hue. The Maldives are famous for excellent diving, and although many corals were decimated by a warm current in 1997, the deeper reefs are still outstanding. With visibility of up to 30 metres, you’re diving in waters so gin-clear you're tempted to say "Cheers!" and drink it.

-----------------
Below us, Kunfunadhoo Island is a comma of coral and palms adrift on an epic sea. The 30-minute trip here from Male has been less a flight than a transcendent experience.

Soneva Fushi Resort on Kunfunadhoo is one of the Maldives' most upmarket retreats. I settle into my beachfront suite and a tough regimen of snorkelling, dining and the contemplation of a good novel. The food is a wonder of the reef - tuna steaks that seem to have leapt straight from sea to plate. At the resort’s spa, a Swedish masseuse has a fair go at untying the Gordian knots of my shoulders. As relaxed as jelly, I then wobble off on a bicycle, along banyan shaded paths, to flop into the sea.

(read entire article)

Another resort in the idyllic Maldives

2006-07-03T11:41:00.000+10:00

Anantara Maldives - Luxist: "Anantara Maldives

Posted Jul 1st 2006 12:04PM

by Deidre Woollard

Another resort in the idyllic Maldives will be opening this summer on August 1. Anantara Maldives is a five-star boutique hotel located on the South Male Atoll and it is the newest in the small chain of luxury Anantara resorts. The resort has 68 beachfront villas, two beachfront pool villas and 38 deluxe over-water suites and two deluxe over-water pool suites around a private lagoon. The suites all have king-sized beds with canopies. The resort has restaurants featuring Italian and Asian cuisines and there is also a cooking school at the resort. Other amenities include island picnics, a gymnasium, tennis courts, an infinity-edge freshwater swimming pool and the Anantara Spa which offers Ayurvedic and Indian mud therapies."

====================================
Download Video Documentary