Tag Archives: Maldives

The Fire Restaurant at Kuda Villingili Resort, Maldives has been chosen among the World’s Best Restaurants for Wine Kuda Villingili Resort, Maldives (July 2024) — Fire Restaurant has been honored for its outstanding wine program in Wine Spectator’s 2024 Restaurant Awards, which celebrate the world’s best restaurants for wine. “We are immensely delighted to receive the Wine Spectator’s 2024 Award of Excellence,” said Amjad Thaufeeq, Commercial Director of Kuda Villingili. This award is a testament to our team’s dedication to providing our guests with an outstanding dining experience and a wide range of wine choices. Our wine program is designed to cater to both connoisseurs and casual wine lovers, ensuring that every guest finds something to enjoy.” “The restaurant industry is growing and thriving, with restaurant openings surpassing pre-pandemic levels for the first time. To take advantage of the uptick, restaurateurs are re-investing in their wine programs,” said Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher, Wine Spectator. “Restaurants that make wine a priority are what the Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards program is all about. I’m pleased to congratulate all 3,777 restaurants for their dedication to wine and exemplary wine lists.” Launched in 1981, the Restaurant Awards represent the world’s only program focused exclusively on restaurant wine service. They are assigned on three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award, with 2,150; 1,531; and 96 winners this year in each respective category. Fire Restaurant has won the Award of Excellence The Award of Excellence recognizes restaurants whose wine lists feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style.

Visit Maldives and Manta Air with key resort/guest house partners have successfully concluded the “Explore Maldives” roadshow held at the prestigious Shangri-La Bengaluru on June 26, 2024. The roadshow aimed at reigniting the interest of Indian travelers to attract more Indian tourists provided excellent networking opportunities between the partner resorts/guest houses and the travel industry leaders in India. The very successful event attended by 130+ agents and media personnel saw participation from major hospitality chains of Maldives that included all segments including resorts and guest houses of Maldives along with DMCs, Travel Agents and Tour Operators as well as MICE travel organizers from India. Participation by travel industry leaders of India including Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) Karnataka Chapter and Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) – Karnataka Chapter, provided much needed fuel to reignite interest amongst Indian travelers to seek Maldives as preferred holiday destination. The full-day event opened by Zihuny Rasheed, Deputy Managing Director, Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC) was followed by presentations by key resort partners and multiple networking sessions that provided invaluable opportunities for the partner resorts/guest houses to engage with the attending travel agents and tour operators. The grand event hosted with tremendous support from the partners also saw numerous raffles and giveaways provided by the esteemed resorts partners exclusively for the event. “Manta Air’s regular direct flights between the Garden City of India (Bengaluru) and the Sunny Side of Life (Maldives) is a significant step forward in not only improving connectivity but also accessibility, making it easier than ever for Indian tourists to reach our shores, and vice versa.” said Zihuny Rasheed. “Building bridges between our cultures is vital, as India and …

Amidst ongoing controversial remarks by Maldive’s politician, a lot of agents and companies are cancelling Maldives bookings. Riaz Munshi, President, OTOAI, said, “Approximately, Maldives faces 40%-50% cancellation by Indian trade. Due to this comment, there is uproar in social media, impacting sentiment of people in India. Some outbound operators have also cancelled their bookings”.

There’s something magical about destination weddings, especially when they involve an island resort and white sandy beaches in the heart of the Indian Ocean a shade of blue yet to be formalised! The Amari Raaya Maldives, part of the brand ‘Amari’ which is the centre-piece of ONYX Hospitality Group’s portfolio of brands established under one of Thailand’s largest conglomerates – the Italthai Group, provide all this and much more to make your wedding dreams come true! The Amari Raaya Maldives is hidden gem on a secluded, pristine island in the heart of the Indian Ocean that provide a unique experience for its guests. The five-star property provide 187 contemporary Beach and Ocean Villas, each with a private pool, and a myriad of indoor of outdoor spaces that can be magically transformed into beautiful venues for different wedding functions. The property reflects the warmth and energy of an evolving modern Asia offering unique textures and flavors that showcase architecture, design, art, cuisine and service with a touch of contemporary Thai-ness. Be it an intimate beach wedding, a full-on celebration at a modern Maldives resort, watch tower matrimonies with sweeping views, a traditional or contemporary ceremony, the wedding planners and the on-island caterers of the Amari Raaya Maldives are well-equipped to make all dreams come true for the couple. From room management to transport, concept, food, music and flowers, everything is taken care of allowing the couple and their families to fully immerse themselves in enjoying the fairytale wedding celebrations. Either before or after the wedding ceremonies, the couple and their families can embark on a traditional Dhoni boat adventure or head out to the Village – the island’s town centre to …

In June 2023, New Delhi well known for introducing distinctive hotel and resort brands to the Indian travel market, ISA Tourism Pvt Ltd has introduces ‘The Greatest All Inclusive resort’ from Maldives – the newly opened Oaga Art Resort, located in North Male’ Atoll just a quick 45 minutes distance by speedboat from Velana International airport! A contemporary, homegrown brand driven by a Maldivian team to curate an experience elevating the collective story of the Maldives islands with a platform for local artists and craftsmen. Aanlheoa !, For centuries, it has been customary in Maldives to welcome guests with ‘Aanlheoa’, exclaimed with open hearts on the arrival of a traveller to one’s island. Oaga Art Resort is all about feeling and being in the moment, through hospitality that feels authentic and is truly Maldivian. Oaga Art Resort represents an eclectic blend of activities and vivid impressions for curious travelers, with something for everyone around the corner – inspired by the best of Maldivian history, art, culture, and heritage. On the island of Oaga, where the magic of stories comes enchantingly to life, discover what the real Maldives has to offer as you write your own tale. Speaking on the appointment of ISA Tourism as the Indian partner for representation, marketing, sales and PR services, Mr. Manas Sinha, Director of ISA Tourism said – this alliance is of ‘like-minds’ and ‘shared-vision’. Oaga Art Resort, a truly Maldivian Resort joins a truly Indian company to augment the business from the Indian stakeholders and increase the Indian arrivals at this amazingly designed, happening and off course the greatest All-Inclusive stay plan offer in the Maldives. Boasting of largest art collection in the Maldives, …

Beginning February 11, Indian low-cost carrier GoAir will fly direct between Hyderabad and Malé (in Maldives). The flight will be operated four times a week – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The new route will be serviced by the Airbus A320 neo aircraft, and will further strengthen the airline’s network in the region.

The Nautilus is the ideal choice for a private Indian Ocean escape, and the picture-perfect bohemian hideaway offers guests incomparable romantic experiences this Valentine’s Day. The celebrated property offers guests the choice of two specially-curated packages, alongside exceptional experiences like indulging in bespoke culinary feasts anywhere on the island or sliding into the tourmaline-tinted seas to spot manta rays and whale sharks. Valentine’s Day packages at The Nautilus The Nautilus’ Rejoice in Love offers you the opportunity to pamper your Valentine with the ultimate day of romance, starting with a champagne breakfast upon your private castaway sandbank. Head to the island’s overwater Solasta Spa for a soothing couple’s treatment, enjoy beach-front sunset cocktails and end the day with a personally curated beach dinner set beneath the starry-sky. For the ultimate couple’s experience opt for the Passionate Souls package and begin the day with a lavish champagne breakfast upon the luxury yacht, Nautilus One. Indulge in a healing-specific couple’s massage at the serene Solasta Spa and end the day by toasting to your true love over sunset cocktails by the ocean accompanied by a candlelit dinner upon the pristine white sands. The Nautilus is the realisation of a vision of boundless privacy and unscripted ultimate luxury, where guests can choose exactly what they want to do, where and when. Hedonistic gastronomy The Nautilus delights in veering off script, crafting bespoke culinary journeys designed just for you. You could choose to dine upon your private sandbank for an intimate champagne breakfast, or, opt to set sail upon a luxurious glamourous yacht with personal sommelier and wine tasting. Epicureans in particular may indulge with a special lunch by the lagoon, a romantic beach …

India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Nepal will soon hold a discussion to determine a possible course of action for the revival of tourism in the region. India has proposed to resume tourism and aviation activities with appropriate restrictions through the travel bubble concept. India and Sri Lanka decided this during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s Colombo visit.

WTTC reveals that 100 destinations are now using its ‘Safe Travels’ stamp, with the Philippines becoming the official 100th destination to receive it. The stamp was developed in order to help restore confidence in travellers and work to revive an ailing travel & tourism sector, is now also being used by many more major holiday destinations such as the Maldives, Bermuda, Namibia, Uganda and Montenegro.

India and Maldives exchanged diplomatic notes for the implementation of the visa facilitation agreement with an aim to boost people-to-people ties between the two countries. The agreement provides a very liberal visa regime for Maldivian nationals to visit India for tourism, business, education and medical purposes. It will be effective from March 11 after all formalities including information being provided to all immigration offices, border points and customs authorities have been completed. The agreement was signed during Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih’s visit to India on December 17 last year. The exchange of diplomatic notes follows the signature of the agreement by President Ram Nath Kovind after the Union Cabinet had given its approval, read a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Relations between New Delhi and Male came under strain during former President Abdulla Yameen’s five-year rule, which saw him cosying up with China for various development projects, cracking down on dissent and imposing a state of emergency by jailing opposition leaders. Moreover, there were several diplomatic issues under the Yameen government with many Indian nationals being reportedly denied visas. Solih’s surprise victory in the Maldives presidential elections in last September came as a major diplomatic victory for India, after New Delhi repeatedly warned the Yameen government to respect democratic institutions and free the jailed opposition leaders.