Author: Mohamed Reehaan
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/Visit Maldives) and the National Hotel and Guesthouse Association of Maldives (NHGAM) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Sunday to effectively promote Maldives tourism. The agreement was signed between MMPRC’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Ibrahim Shiuree and NHGAM’s Vice President, Ahmed Waheed. “We are excited to strengthen our collaboration with NHGAM to tap into emerging markets,” Shiuree said. “By working closely with industry partners such as NHGAM, we aim to further enhance our offerings and attract more travelers to the Maldives.” NHGAM will play a crucial role in supporting marketing efforts…
The Maldives has jumped nine ranks in the Henley Passport Index to secure the South Asian region’s most powerful passport spot for the fourth consecutive year. As per the Henley Passport Index, which reviews the visa-free access of passports to different countries, the Maldives is now ranked 52nd globally, which is a significant improvement from its 61st spot last year. This jump also puts the Maldives seven ranks ahead of China, which is now in the 59th position. Maldivian passport holders enjoy visa-free entry into 94 countries. While the Maldives is currently first ranked in the South Asian region, India…
Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced that his administration has launched a reform agenda focused on enhancing the individual growth of the citizenry. President Muizzu made these remarks while speaking at the official Independence Day function held at the Maldives Center for Social Education (MCSE) on Friday evening. Dr. Muizzu stated that individual independence is “inherently linked to the nation’s independence” and clarified that this administration’s reforms aim to provide citizens with the security and freedoms necessary to build their own livelihoods. He further emphasized that a nation’s independence is founded on its economic, individual, and defense sovereignty. He highlighted…
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/Visit Maldives) has partnered with the National Hotels and Guesthouses Association of Maldives (MHGAM) to announce the reopening of the participation window for the Asian Tourism Fair (ATF) 2024. The highly anticipated 11th edition will be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from September 19 to 24, at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB). The ATF is considered a premier platform for Pan-Asian tourism collaboration, and sees the convergence of a diverse range of stakeholders, ranging from adventure tourism companies to airlines, amusement parks, hotels, and national tourism organizations. This year’s fair coincides with World Tourism…
The financial situation of Maldivian businesses worsened in all sectors in 2024 second quarter, reports Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA). The central bank adds that businesses in all the surveyed sectors, except for wholesale and retail trade sector, anticipate the financial situation to improve in the third quarter. As for businesses in wholesale and retail sector, the financial situation appears to be heading into worsening conditions in Q3-2024. MMA also reports that employment levels dropped steeply for businesses in the tourism sector and construction sector, with the former registering the biggest decline in the second quarter of this year. Businesses in…
State Trading Organization (STO) Medical Services has introduced SD Biosensor Lab Equipment to the Maldives. The launch event, held at Lonuziyaaraiy Park in Male’ City, was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Health Aminath Shirna. This new introduction to the Maldivian market marks a revolutionary achievement in rapid and point-of-care testing at hospitals and clinics across the country. Nearly all the kits used in this new line of equipment have received World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification, ensuring they meet the highest standards of diagnostic accuracy and reliability. Representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Health Protection Agency (HPA), and…
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) towards strengthening collaboration and amplifying destination marketing efforts. Speaking about this new strategic partnership, MMPRC CEO and Managing Director Ibrahim Shiuree acknowledged MATI’s extensive industry knowledge, and said the association’s experience will be an “indispensable asset” to strengthen the Maldives tourism board’s destination marketing efforts. Shiuree also said MATI’s insights will also support MMPRC with its work towards achieving its strategic objectives. Ahmed Nazeer, the Secretary General of MATI, also spoke similarly and said, “We have always maintained…
India, under its ‘neighborhood first’ policy, will be allocating the highest aid to Bhutan in its external aid portfolio in the Union Budget for 2024-25. In contrast, the outlay to Maldives observes a sharp decline from INR 7 billion (USD 84 million) to INR 4 million (USD 48 million). For Bhutan, India has allocated INR 21 billion (USD 347 million) in development aid. The reason for this cut, according to a few Indian media outlets, is due to the weakened ties between India and the Maldives, especially after Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, rumored to have pro-China leanings, became Maldives President in…
Bank of Maldives (BML) on Wednesday, assured its staff were not involved in cases where money from customer bank accounts have ‘vanished’. Parliament’s State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Committee on Wednesday summoned officials from BML, Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), and Maldives Correctional Services to question them about the implementation progress of recommendations set forth by the committee in a 2023 report regarding the issue. At the committee meeting, BML’s Director of Retail and SME Banking Moosa Nimal said there had been no indication of the bank employees’ involvement according to the investigation from relevant authorities. Nimal also said that 1,400 scam cases…
Maldives government held talks with the United States Ambassador Hugo Yue-Ho Yon in line with the recently concluded TIFA talks. Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed met with Ambassador Yon, and held their focused on the areas discussed at the third meeting of the US-Maldives Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council. Saeed confirmed that the discussions focused primarily on facilitating wider access to e-commerce platforms for Maldivian entrepreneurs as envisioned by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. At the earlier TIFA talks, Minister Saeed met with the Assistant US Trade Representative (AUSTR) Brendan Lynch. Saeed, on behalf of the…