Author: Mohamed Reehaan
The Maldives has a target of attracting 1.9 million annual tourists in 2023, which initially was at 1.8 million. Earlier, Maldives Ministry of Tourism revised the annual arrival target to increase it by an additional 100,000 from the initial projection on the back of Chinese tourist arrival resumption. While tourist arrival to the Maldives observed strong momentum around the first half of 2023, the same cannot be said anymore. In fact, tourist arrival momentum appears to be traversing through muddy waters as of now as the annual growth figure continues to slip gradually. The current annual growth in tourist arrivals…
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru unveils ‘Madi Hiyaa’, the latest architectural gem, an exceptional standalone overwater Yakitori Restaurant and Bar. The new culinary outleat features an incredible sea saltwater infinity pool, breathtaking sunset panoramas, caressed by the gentle sea breez. The venue drew its title directly from Dhivehi Language, where “Madi” symbolizes the rays flapping and cruising gently underwater, and “Hiyaa” signifies shelter. The award-winning Nomadic Resorts, headquartered in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and renowned for sustainable architectural projects, played a pivotal role in bringing Madi Hiyaa to life.
The world-renowned five-star deluxe all-inclusive Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa, affiliated with The Leading Hotels of the World, is celebrating its one-year anniversary since re-opening. The resort has soared to new heights, boasting an astonishing average occupancy of 85% over the past 12 months. Italy, UK, and Germany accounted for 45% of total bookings (with 15%) each, while the remaining 55% of guests come from the rest of the world. The resort is already ranked on the top 10 resorts for guests’ satisfaction on TripAdvisor and a score of 9.8 on Booking.com. To commemorate this resort’s anniversary, Emerald Faarufushi held…
Established in 1987, the State Electric Company (STELCO) has played a crucial role in bringing light and power to the Maldives. Before the company’s inception, electricity in the island nation was scarce and mainly limited to Male’ City. The need for an organized and efficient electrical supply company became evident with the growing population and expanding economy. To address this need, the Maldives government founded the company on January 18, 1987; which back then was the sole provider of electricity in the Maldives. Early Setbacks The company faced numerous challenges during its infancy-era including limited financial resources, insufficient workforce and…
Kaafu atoll Maafushi Council has begun the process of allocating 84 additional land plots. Maafushi Island Council’s President Hassan Sobah said the council will allocate more land by making revisions to the land use plan. Earlier in March, it was announced 308 plots, each spanning 2,000 square feet will be designated for residential purposes on the reclaimed portion of Maafushi. According to the council, priority will be given to the residents of the island in plot allocation. In April, the council amended the rules to increase the chances of residents acquiring land. Sobah also noted that he would approach the…
Maldives is renowned for its stunning coral atolls and luxurious resorts. Beyond the natural beauty, Maldives is also home to a rich cultural history that often gets overlooked. One such historical aspects of the Maldives is the legacy of Borah merchants. These traders from the Indian subcontinent played a significant role in shaping the economic and cultural landscape of the Maldives. Origins of the Borah Merchants The term “Borah” refers to a Muslim trading community originally hailing from the Gujarat region of India. They were known for their mercantile skills and strong business acumen. The Borah community comprises Sunni and…
By now you all would have heard about cryptocurrencies at the very least. Some of you are now well-versed in it, and some of you have already begun trading with crypto-assets. Some of you probably have digital wallets installed with floating cryptocurrency balances. But there are still several of us who do not understand the makings and machinations of the digital-age currency. What is Cryptocurrency? It is like digital money, and just as you use regular cash or credit cards to make transactions in the physical world, you can use cryptocurrency to purchase goods and services in the digital world.…
Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) reports a total revenue of MVR 1.60 billion to the government in August 2023, a 21.0% increment from the same month in 2022. The authority said this increment was largely due to the increase in the collection of Tourism Goods and Services Tax (TGST), General Goods and Services Tax (GGST), Tourism Land Rent and Airport Taxes and Fees. Tourist arrivals for July 2023 had increased by 9.0% compared to the corresponding month in 2022, which led to the increment in collection of tourism-related revenues. Despite the increment in the revenues, it was still 7.7% below…
Dhiraagu introduces Plug-and-Play 5G Turbo WiFi providing high-speed 5G connectivity for the customers at home and anywhere they go. Prepaid and postpaid packages are available with the 5G Turbo WiFi device. Customers can opt for different packages that come in varying prices and data allowances. Special boosters are available for customers who prefer higher-speeds. Dhiraagu noted that the unused data allowance will be carried forward up to one month with the data rollover benefits.
Maldives government announced fully-funded scholarship opportunities for interested students to pursue higher education in inclusive education. Four slots for Masters of Autism and three slots for Masters of Educational Assistive Technologies are for study based in the United Kingdom. Ministry of Higher Education said the scholarships were offered to train and develop teachers required to deliver special education under the inclusive education policy of the government. Eligible applicants should have completed Bachelors Degree in a related field and have two years of teaching experience in a state-run school. Application deadline is 13:30hrs on October 5, 2023. Applicants are required to…