Author: Mohamed Reehaan

Travel Trade Maldives (TTM) introduces new award designs with additional award categories for the TTM Awards 2022. According to the organizer, the new design embodies significant elements of the Maldivian archipelago. The new design incorporates varying shades of blue; depicting a lagoon, sea, and the underwater creatures. TTM partners will be able to apply for the awards until 31st May 2022, while resorts can apply for a maximum of 3 categories if they fit the criteria. The award finalists are selected through a voting process, which will consist of 25% votes from the TTM Editorial Team, 25% vote from an…

The latest statistics from the Ministry of Finance confirm that the cumulative total of state expenditures reached MVR5,962.0 million (MVR5.96 billion) as of 10th March 2022. On the other hand, the cumulative total of revenues inclusive of foreign grants reached MVR5,419.1 million (MVR5.4 billion) by the review period. Due to higher state spending in comparison with state earnings, the overall balance for the period observed a deficit that had stretched from the previous week to hit MVR542.9 million. So far, the state has spent 73% of its total budget towards recurrent expenses and the remaining 27% on capital expenses. On…

State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) cautioned the public on Thursday, 17th March 2022, notifying possible power cuts sometime during the late afternoon. According to the utility provider, the power cuts will be the result of maintenance works that will be carried out in various locations in the Maldives capital. STELCO gave the heads-up on Thursday morning, adding that some parts of the city will face power interruptions. Furthermore, STELCO has stated consumers may experience power interruptions between 16:00hrs to 17:00hrs. As per the notification from STELCO, residents living in the Henveiru ward may face power cuts during the said hours.

Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has partnered up with Malaysia’s MuBump Media to launch a “cabvertising” campaign from 17th March to 17th May 2022. Through this creative destination advertisement, Maldives will be promoted as a “preferred and safe tourist destination for Malaysia travelers.” Furthermore, this campaign aligns with the Maldives tourism promoter’s strategy targeting Southeast Asian markets. MyBump Media will assist MMPRC in its efforts to maximize the visibility of the island nation’s destination promotion in the market and increase destination awareness to maintain brand presence. The campaign will feature advertisements of the Maldives on at least 30…

The Managing Director of State Electric Company Limited (STELCO), Mr. Ahmed Shareef, on Wednesday, 16th March, confirmed that the employees’ health insurance scheme has been upgraded. According to the utility provider’s front-man, the upgraded schemes are inclusive to employees’ parents as well. Speaking about the new development, Mr. Shareef had emphasized the continued concerns by the corporation’s employees over the schemes failing to ensure insurance for the parents of the employees. Mr. Shareef confirmed that the changes were brought to alleviate the worries of STELCO’s workforce in a collective approach. To achieve this, STELCO had dropped its in-house health insurance…

Maldives Police Service has recommended the public practice caution against scam exchangers. The authority claimed that several community groups on various online texting or chat applications are currently “flooded” by such scammers. According to the Maldivian law enforcement authority, the scammers sell forged currencies. Moreover, Maldives Police had stated that cases of similar nature have been increasing in recent months with many victims lodging complaints with them. US Dollar spiked up following the Russia-Ukraine conflict, while the availability of foreign currency in the Maldivian market has become comparatively tedious which has led to many illicit and duplicitous currency exchangers targeting…

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, one of the most coveted luxury resorts in the island nation, has unveiled its new look after an extensive multi-year and multimillion-dollar renovation. The major makeover has resulted in 50 refreshed overwater villas, revamped overwater spa, elevating dining experiences in three of the resort’s restaurants and bars. In addition to this, the resort unveiled a brand new gym facility as well as an entirely new teens’ club, and a major upgrade on its kids’ club. Upgraded water villas were given new interiors and larger window-panes to maximize light and reflect the scenery while providing a better…

State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) affirmed on Monday, 14th March, that the upgrade of the electricity distribution network of Alif Dhaal atoll Hangnaameedhoo was drawing close to completion. Moreover, the utility provider confirmed that the upgrading project will conclude sometime within March 2022. STELCO will be installing a total of 2,950 meters of cables out of which 2,900 meters of cables have already been installed. Earlier, STELCO’s designated workshop; STEWO, commissioned its trademark generator for Hangnaameedhoo powerhouse unit. STEWO assembled its STW300 class generator which holds 300kVA capacity.

Tourist arrivals to the Maldives have exceeded 324,000 as of 09th March 2022, according to the latest updates from the Ministry of Tourism. The most recent figures from the authority confirm that the total number of tourist arrivals by the review date reached 324,743, indicating an annual growth of 48.6% when compared with the same period in 2021. On the other hand, the tourist arrivals exclusively for March (so far), showed a total of 43,971 indicating a 49.1% increment when compared with the same period last year. The daily arrival average on annual terms stood at 4,776 whereas in March…

The award-winning luxury tourist resort Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas has earned a gold win, being voted as the “Best Luxury Hotel in the Maldives” in the 2022 DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards. The results came through the magazine’s annual poll for the 16th edition of Readers’ Choice Awards that took place between September and December 2021. Speaking about the win, the resort’s General Manager Ross Sanders said, “we are honored and grateful for this prestigious recognition. This is another milestone in our journey and fantastic acknowledgment of our efforts in maintaining the highest level of guest satisfaction.” The top-tier tourist resort…