Author: Mohamed Reehaan

Bank of Maldives (BML) announces opening applications for proposals under its Community Fund. This marks the fund’s third phase for the year 2022. The bank confirms a total of 10 projects will be selected, that will receive MVR50,000 to implement community-centric projects. The projects area in the areas of education, environment, sports and community development. BML further confirms the community fund is open for only registered NGOs. Proposals with supporting documents must be sent to [email protected] before 23:59hrs on 17th October 2022.

Tourist arrivals to the Maldives reach 1,078,635 as of 31st August 2022, reports Ministry of Tourism. According to the state body, tourist arrivals observed a 42.7% increment in annual terms compared to the corresponding period in 2021. Tourist arrivals for the same period in 2021 stood at 755,966. However, this was still 4.9% lower than the corresponding period in 2019. Tourist arrivals for the said period in 2019 stood at 1,134,071. Tourism source markets observed a key change as Russia took second spot, replacing United Kingdom. Source market arrival details are as follows; India – 153,204 Russia – 123,208 UK…

Male’ City, Sunday 04th September – The capital city’s council announced its plans to relocate locally famous flea market (“Neelan Fihaara) elsewhere. While actual reasons have yet to be officiated, council has likely moved forward with the decision to facilitate for the mini-bus service. Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) is gearing up to launch the bus service within Male’ City, for which several major roads are going through parking space alterations. The flea market is a hotspot for enthusiastic back and forth bargaining between vendors and purchasers for used good. The market zone has exceeded its legally allocated zone,…

Ritz-Carlton takes the coveted first rank spot for August, for delivering the highest service charge from any tourist resort. Resort Workers Maldives (RWM) report that the top-end tourist property disbursed a whopping USD1,317 (over MVR20,300) to its staff. Anantara Kihavah Maldives landed second spot with a USD836 disbursement. One & Only Reethi Rah made secured third spot with USD787. Kagi Maldives was listed for disbursing the lowest service charge for the month at USD175. While the list is reflective of data collected based on the consensus and comments from resort industry employees, this is not an official list. According to…

Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) confirms the mini bus services will commence in Male’ City on 05th September, Monday. Trial runs for the service continued for past two weeks. Upon official commencement, rides will be free for the first two week. Post the free-trial period, customers will be charged MVR7.00. Students in uniform, passengers below the age of 3 and elderly citizens can travel free-of-charge. The mini buses will operate on two main routes from Majeedhee Magu and Ameenee Magu; two major roads of the city. Vehicle parking in these roads have been restricted now.

Ace Travels Maldives, one of the leading travel management companies in the island nation, announces introduction of Ace Holidays; the company’s exclusive outbound holiday travel wing. Ace Holidays provides a wide range of services, towards meeting holiday package requirements. Ace Travels report their new outbound holiday travel wing will provide services including airlines (global), holiday packages with activities, medical travel, group and MICE travel arrangements, airport ground handling supervision with VIP services. The parent company, Ace Travels Holidays came to service in 2022. The travel management company is wholly owned by Aitken Spence Travels and Inner Maldives Holidays Group.

The Nautilus has welcomed a new Executive Assistant Manager, and a new Director of Food and Beverage into their leadership team. Both professionals, Ahmed Faris and Nizam Hassan respectively, have combined experiences spanning over three decades. Faris has previously worked as the Front Office Manager and Director of Rooms for notable hotelier brands including Marriott International and Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts. Hassan has been a part of the Pulse Hotels and Resorts group between 2015 to 2017, and ascended as the F&B Manager at Kandima Maldives. His portfolio includes popular tourist properties such as One & Only, Taj and…

Ooredoo Maldives announces a special cashback offer specific for their Club Premier members. Customers of the exclusive club, who make payments via m-Faisaa will receive the cashback offer, confirms Ooredoo. According to the telecom and internet service provider, customers making utility payments and shopping via m-Faisaa will receive the cashback to their m-Faisaa wallets. This is a limited time offer, valid until 31st October 2022. The cashback offer is not limited to utility payments, but also for any m-Faisaa enabled shopping outlet. Utility options on the platform include MWSC, STELCO, MediaNet, Villa Gas, Maldive Gas and Amana Takaful. So far…

Cumulative total of state expenditure reaches MVR24.0 billion by 25th August 2022, reports Ministry of Finance. The authority further confirms state’s cumulative revenue reached MVR18.2 billion, inclusive of foreign grants. State has spent 73% of its budgetary total on recurrent expenses. The remaining 27% has been concentrated on capital expenses. On the other hand, state has earned 73% of its revenue through tax sources. The remaining 27% came through non-tax sources. The overall balance for the period is a deficit of MVR5.8 billion. Cumulative total of tax revenues hit MVR13.4 billion by review date. By the corresponding period in 2021,…

Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) confirms commencing Raajje-Transport Link (RTL) services in Shaviyani atoll, on 30th August 2022. With this introduction of RTL services, the atoll will be connecting with northernmost atolls of Haa Alif and Haa Dhaal. Shaviyani is the third atoll under phase 1 of the services. MTCC previously launched services in Haa Dhaal first, and Haa Alif after. In Shaviyani atoll, the RTL services will operate on 7 distinct routes with four ferries each with a capacity of 50 passengers. The first week of the service in the atoll will be a trial run without a…