Author: Mohamed Reehaan
Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi has appointed its new General Manager, Mr. Marshall Orton. Mr. Orton is a decorated hospitality industry veteran with a career span of 35 years and spent a majority of his tenures across Asia, Europe and the USA with an impressive portfolio holding names such as Accor. Some of his most notable tenures include La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc, Pullman Yangon Centerpoint and Sofitel Bangkok as their General Manager, Director of Operations and Executive Assistant respectively. Apart from being deft in managerial aspects, Mr. Orton is a skilled chef with a pantheon of culinary roles filled…
The Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan recently told Maldives Parliament that the fishing facility in Thaa atoll Funaddu will be operational sometime in 2023. The fisheries facility in Funaddu is operated by Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO). The minister’s response was directed to Thimarafushi MP Abdulla Riyaz who submitted request for a written response from the minister. In his written response, the minister attested that the facility will become operational following eight months of refurbishments works. “The loan is expected to be arranged and fish collection in Funaddu expected to commence in May 2023,”…
Bank of Maldives (BML) will reportedly introduce transit exclusive cards in association with international financial services corporation MasterCard. The transit cards will be utilized in the Raajje Transport Link (RTL) services launched by Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) for which the national bank had signed with the contracting company. Moreover the new payment system will be integrated into all other payment networks either managed or accepted by BML. Under the Maldives Transit Project, BML will reportedly introduce an open-loop technology allowing customers to make use of a single transit card with cash top-up features without the requirement of additional…
Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has officially commenced services of Raajje Transport Link (RTL) in Haa Dhaal atoll on Sunday, 12th June. The RTL services falls under MTCC’s nationwide Integrated National Public Ferry Network (INPFN) project which will see the island nation’s residential atolls linked via high-speed ferries. Under the first phase of the project MTCC will reportedly launch services in the three northernmost atolls; Haa Alif, Haa Dhaal and Shaviyani out of which the transport and contracting company launched services in Haa Dhaal atoll first. The RTL ferry service will operate between 13 residential islands of Haa Dhaal…
State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) has reportedly concluded the installation of solar power panels at Alif Alif atoll Bodufulhadhoo powerhouse. In addition to this, the utility provider recently confirmed completing the installation of electricity cables in the picnic island of Kudagiri in Male’ atoll. STELCO installed a total of 3,000 meters of electrical cables under the project. The solar power panel installation in Bodufulhadhoo powerhouse falls under the state administration’s pledge on reducing fuel-dependency for electricity production and the subsequent promotion of renewable energy resources in the Maldives. STELCO has recently affirmed its commitment towards increasing renewable energy options across…
State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) has commenced installation of electricity on the housing towers developed by the utility company in Hulhumale’ Phase II. The decision for STELCO stepping up on electricity installation instead of Housing Development Corporation (HDC) was confirmed on 05th June. STELCO moved ahead with the decision due to the delay on HDC’s part. Following the utility company board’s decision, STELCO is currently installing a transformer network in the housing towers to power the structures. Moreover, STELCO had decided to expedite electricity installation to ensure their housing structures were hospitable by the coming July where the utility provider…
Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) revealed that the state earned a total of MVR1.28 billion of revenue in May 2022. Out of the total revenue earned to the state, 53.47 million were collected in foreign currencies. The government revenue collection had observed a 63.0% increment when compared to the same period in 2021, owing to the increment tourism related revenues such as TGST, Green Tax and airport taxes and fees. Furthermore, state earnings for the review month increased by 12.8% compared to initial projections mainly due to the significant increase in GGST, TGST as well as non-resident withholding tax. State…
Bangkok Airways recently announced its plans to resume flight operations to the Maldives on 22nd July 2022. The Thailand regional airline will reportedly restart its operations from Suvarnabhumi Airport and operate between Velana International Airport (VIA). Furthermore, the airline will have four scheduled flights to the island nation on a weekly basis. Bangkok Airways will operate two of its Airbus A319 aircraft for the route. In addition to this Bangkok Airways announced its plan to resume several of its popular domestic and international routes by the third quarter of 2022. The airline further reported that its flights to the Maldives…
The latest update from Ministry of Tourism reveal that the total number of tourist arrivals to the Maldives has reached 732,884 as of 08th June 2022. Meanwhile, tourist arrivals in annual terms increased by 56.5% compared to the same period in 2021 during which tourist arrivals stood at just 468,387. Despite strong improvement in 2022 compared to 2021, the tourist arrivals in annual terms was still 6.2% below pre-pandemic levels in 2019 during which the tourist arrival total stood at 780,931. From 01st until 08th June, the total tourist arrivals in 2022 reached 30,562 observing a staggering 118.2% improvement over…
Bank of Maldives (BML) celebrated the World Oceans Day by collaborating with local dive schools to provide introductory Discover Dives for children with disabilities. In the initiative, a total of 18 participants from Maldives Association for Person with Disabilities and Autism Association joined the dive. According to the bank, the main aim of the initiative was to provide “children with disabilities an opportunity to experience the ocean through scuba diving, which is proven to be both therapeutic and rehabilitative.” The effort was carried out with the collaboration of locally renowned dive centers Divers Lodge, Dive Club and Moodhu Bulhaa Dive…