Tourism Strike Postponed After MPs “Guarantee” Legal Change

The Tourism Employees’ Association Maldives (TEAM) has delayed an industry-wide strike planned for 5 October, after MPs “guaranteed” legal changes would be made on 6 October, a TEAM spokesperson said.

The strike will now go ahead on 7 October – just one day before presidential elections – if amendments to the law do not pass on 6 October, according to Mohamed Mihad of TEAM.

TEAM had threatened up to 20,000 tourism workers would take industrial action on 5 October if they were not accorded new legal rights already received by others under the Employment Act.

But the group has now met with MPs from three political parties, who said it was impossible to schedule amendments to the law by 5 October but “guaranteed” the changes would pass a parliamentary vote on 6 October, said Mihad. They are already tabled for that date.

“We have given them a chance. Our aim is to pass this [change to the] law,” he said, adding he was pleased with MPs’ commitment to introducing the new rights. “Our campaign has been very successful. It is working very well.”

Online travel alerts had already circulated, warning holidaymakers of possible strike chaos at the country’s idyllic island resorts on 5 October.

Speaker of parliament Mohamed Shihab warned on Saturday that 6 October was the earliest the amendments to the Employment Act could reach the floor of the Majlis (parliament).

The Majlis is currently on a two-week recess, whilst the festival of Eid ul-Fitr may prevent it from reconvening this week.

However TEAM representatives met with MPs from the government’s Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) on Monday, who offered a “100 per cent commitment” to passing the amendments on 6 October, Mihad said.

“They have the majority in the Majlis to pass any law they want,” said Mihad. 27 of parliament’s 50 MPs are believed to be loyal to the DRP.

Mihad said the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which has 5 MPs, and Social Liberal Party, which has one, had also promised to back the amendments.

Parties appear keen to garner support among the tourism workers, who make up about 10 per cent of the electorate.

TEAM president Ahmed Easa said last week the strike was planned for election time “so we know who is on our side and who is not, for when we vote.”

The Employment Act came into force in July, awarding workers in the Maldives unprecedented rights such as a minimum wage, maximum working hours and protection against unfair dismissal.

But tourism workers were excluded, along with workers at factories on uninhabited islands. Legal reform minister Mohamed Nasheed said at the time this was a “mistake” and in June promised an amendment to the law.

TEAM was formed in July, and says it will become a fully-fledged trade union now that the country’s new constitution enshrines the rights to unionise and strike.

The association says employees on 70 resorts of a total 92 had agreed to strike, and will still do so if the strike goes ahead on the later date.

About 25,000 work altogether in the Maldives’ tourism industry, which directly and indirectly generates 70 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Source: www.minivannews.com

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Resorts warning staff of disciplinary action should they participate in the 5th October strike
Travel advisory alert - strike in Maldives
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Tourism Employees Threaten Strike On 5 October

Breaking News: President appoints Abdulla Yameen as the Tourism Minister

The President has today appointed Dr. Abdulla Mausoom as the Minister of Environment, Energy and Water and Abdulla Yameen as the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation.

The President presented their Letters of Appointment at a ceremony held at the President’s Office.

Before the presentation of the Letters of Appointment, the Ministers took their oath of Office in accordance with the Constitution

Tourism Day Supplement 2008

Please Click HERE to view the Tourism Day Supplement.

President calls on tourism sector to ensure environmental sustainability

President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has called on the tourism sector to ensure environmental sustainability in the pursuit of expansion of the tourism industry. President Gayoom made the statement in his message on the occasion of the World Tourism Day, which was marked yesterday.

Reflecting on this year’s World Tourism Day theme, “Tourism Responding to the Challenges of Climate Change”, the President noted that this theme was very closely related to the country. He also said that since even a slight negative change to our delicate environment could result in disastrous consequences, we should keep in mind the vulnerability of our low lying islands, when expanding the tourism industry.

In his message, President Gayoom said that we should be ready to face the challenges of climate change and that the Government was taking all steps necessary to prepare us for those challenges.

Tourism: Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change

By
Francesco Frangialli
UNWTO Secretary-General

Climate change is one of the greatest global challenges in general, and to sustainable development and the UN Millennium Development Goals in particular.

Catalyzing grassroots action by the tourism sector to face this challenge is at the centre of this year’s World Tourism Day Theme, Tourism: Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change.
Tourism is one of the few sectors that cuts across a whole range of economic and social activities. It is furthermore a key economic and job driver in the developing world. We therefore can and must play an active role to tackle the double challenge of climate response and poverty alleviation.

As the leading UN agency for tourism, UNWTO’s input from Davos to Bali 2007 has shown our determination to carry out rigorous action to implement a carbon-neutral roadmap in tourism. We encourage urgent adaptation of a range of policies which promote sustainable tourism that reflects environmental, socio-economic and climate responsiveness.

Our call to action is hence to change habits and position renewable energy at the forefront of international response by promoting the action oriented Davos Declaration Process, encouraging tourism stakeholders to adapt, to mitigate and use new technology and secure financing for the poorest countries to face the challenge of climate change.

Our call to respond to the challenge of climate change consists of a year long campaign during 2008, with World Tourism Day on 27 September in Peru as one of its highlights. A global high-level meeting around this subject will gather public and private stakeholders and contribute to the evolving planning and action towards overall sustainability.

I am certain that we all share these worries, but also the belief that now is the time to effectively act to respond to the challenges.
I look forward to celebrating World Tourism Day with you!

Francesco Frangialli
UNWTO Secretary-General

General Assembly: Strong Support for World Tourism Day Themes for 2008 & 2009

Following the successful World Tourism Day 2007 theme ‘Tourism opens doors for women’, the General Assembly underscored the importance of World Tourism Day (WTD) to be conceived as a yearly campaign to raise awareness on the constructive social role of tourism. WTD 2008 will be hosted in Peru and carry a theme around the tourism sector’s response to the challenges of climate change. WTD 2009 will be hosted in Ghana and underscore the value of diversity and authenticity of tourism in a globalizing world. These are among the outcomes of the 17th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly, 22-29 November, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.

The focus on climate change and the broader development agenda coincides with UNWTO’s active support of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The 2008 theme ranks high on the UN System Agenda and coincides with the 7th MDG: Ensure environmental sustainability and the proclamation of 2008 as the International Year of Planet Earth which will extend to 2009.

The theme will contribute in putting forward the global campaign to implement the Davos Declaration (Climate Change and Tourism – Responding top Global Challenges). The Declaration builds on the tourism sector’s strong relationship with climate and its global social and economic value as well as its role in sustainable development.

The 2009 theme will celebrate tourism diversity and implement a campaign to highlight the importance of tourism and globalization. This will mark the 30th celebration of World Tourism Day, which will be hosted in Ghana.

This campaign will highlight tourism’s role dual as a catalyst for globalization on the one hand, and as an opportunity to reaffirm and preserve the identity at the destination level, on the other.

World Tourism Day & MDGs

The General Assembly also endorsed UNWTO’s appointment of its first Special Advisor on Women and Tourism. This year’s theme coincided with UN’s 3rd MDG: Promote gender equality and empower women. Following the WTD 2007 celebrations of women’s achievements in the tourism sector, Pakistani senator Mrs. Nilofar Bakhatiar will lead the evolution of activities outlined in the 2008-09 General Programme of work.

These range from a UNWTO – UNIFEM (UN Development Fund for Women) annual report on the state of Women in Tourism to fostering a network of activists, ambassadors and advocates to support the work of the UNWTO Special Advisor on Women in Tourism.

World Tourism Day is commemorated on 27 September each year and coincides with the anniversary of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes on 27 September 1970 and was designated as World Tourism Day by the UNWTO General Assembly. For more on WTD go to World Tourism Day.

For further information please contact:
Media Section
T: (34) 91-567-8194 / (34) 91-567-8100 / F: (34) 91-567-8218
comm@unwto.org - http://www.unwto.org/index.php

Tourism Association To Sue Four Seasons Over Strike Threat

The tourism employees’ association says it will take legal action against international hospitality firm Four Seasons, which runs two Maldivian resorts, for threatening action against those who promote an industry strike scheduled for 5 October.

“The laws give the authority to strike. If you try to stop the people by giving a warning then that is against the law,” said Ahmed Easa, president of the Tourism Employees’ Association Maldives (TEAM).

TEAM representatives are due to meet MPs on Monday after saying they will strike three days before presidential elections unless they receive new legal rights. But the speaker of parliament says changes to the law can only be tabled a day after the scheduled protest.

About 25,000 are employed at resorts in the Maldives, with the lucrative tourism sector accounting for a third of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Warning

Easa says TEAM will file a case against Four Seasons after a memo, sent out within its five-star resorts on 25 September, warned of disciplinary action for participation in the strike or distribution of petitions during work hours.

With specific mention to the planned strike, the memo, leaked to Minivan News after being sent to staff by general manager Royal Rowe, says employees may participate in the protest only “in their own personal time”.

Stating that “Four Seasons feels very strongly that work time is for work,” it adds staff are required to “report punctually to duty” and are forbidden from conducting “non-company business,” or will face repercussions.

TEAM president Easa says the documents contravene the constitutional right to strike, and TEAM has approached lawyers.

“The Four Seasons is giving a warning to staff saying if anyone joins the strike then they will be fired or they will face disciplinary action…But the Maldivian law is very clear about the strike. No-one can stop this,” Easa said.

Four Seasons runs the Landaa Giraavaru and Kuda Huraa resorts.

Case

“We have approached lawyers and they have said they will prepare a case,” Easa said, though he adds it is at an early stage.

The strike, announced after the government failed to amend a flagship law which excluded the sector from new basic rights, could be cancelled depending on the outcome of a meeting with parliamentarians on Monday, says Easa.

The Employment Act, ratified by the president in June, provided for a minimum wage and maximum working hours for the first time – but excluded the tourism sector.

Speaker of parliament Mohamed Shihab says amendments cannot be brought to the parliament’s floor before the strike, due to a parliamentary recess.

“We can’t [table the legislation this week]. Parliament has rules and procedures it has to follow…We have very well explained this to these tourism employees,” Shihab said.

A new parliamentary session begins on 1 October, but work can start only on either the first Monday or Friday of the month. Due to the Islamic festival of Eid, October dates will be pushed back, meaning the session’s work can only begin on 6 October.

The committee considering changes to the Act only finished its work on Wednesday, says Shihab. He has now circulated their report to members, to give them time to submit amendments.

But there is no guarantee parliament can amend the Employment Act even on 6 October, as it may need to complete work on the Anti-Corruption Commission, which must be created before 7 October in line with the constitution.

“No More Waiting”

Easa however says TEAM’s decision will not be reneged unless their rights are incorporated into law in the next week. The group will “not take the chance” to wait any longer for negotiation, he said. “Four months ago, when we started, the first thing we said is that it should be solved before elections. But now the possibility of solving the problem before elections is almost gone,” he said.

An announcement by TEAM last week said the group had failed to obtain changes to the law, despite lobbying.

“Now the question is, do we try our ultimate strategy in these last 15 days, or do we wait for another five long years? If we want a solution now, we must go for a peaceful protest,” said the statement.

Employees at Diva Island Resort began a strike in April after three employees were dismissed after petitioning for better conditions.

The new constitution, ratified in August, accords Maldivians the fundamental right to strike for the first time.

Royal Rowe of Four Seasons was unavailable, whilst other staff said they could not comment.

Source: www.minivannews.com

Related News
Resorts warning staff of disciplinary action should they participate in the 5th October strike
Travel advisory alert - strike in Maldives
Tourism employees strike: Is it necessary?
Tourism Employees Threaten Strike On 5 October

Could the Maldives Tourism Development Corporation turn their business model into generating real profits from operations per se?

Could the Maldives Tourism Development Corporation turn their business model into generating real profits from operations per se?

About four companies are publicly listed and active in the Maldives and the cumulative market capitalisation is less than three billion local Rufiyaa – quarter billion American dollars. All four companies are government initiatives. The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company Plc, State Trading Organisation Plc, and Bank of Maldives have been successful and in operation for some time but only a minute per cent are offered to the public. The fourth and a more recent initiative by the government is the Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) in which the government supposedly owns only forty nine per cent. Reports suggest that the government's shares were not paid up and are being adjusted only from dividends. The value proposition for the public is the leasehold for nine uninhabited islands for resort development. MTDC's initial public offering and a further issue of shares were subscribed almost immediately, concluding that the opportunity were taken well. Capital generated helped build Herethera Island Resort in Addu. Most island leases in the company’s asset base including Herethera are now subleased to third parties, apparently by strategy. Steady income from island lease is not bad a strategy and this pays off with a sound cash flow. The company director’s board and shareholders unanimously acknowledged the financial health and approved a ninety per cent return on investment in mare two years. No wonder MTDC’s shares are trading in record numbers these days and the last trade was at Mrf 450 per share. It’s a whopping four and a half fold from face value and anyone out there with these stocks could be selling them.

A hitch worth recognising is that after about two days of disbursement of the declared dividends by MTDC, the Maldives Capital Market Development Authority intervened and temporarily halted the disbursement function. It is about issuing dividends from cash flow and not real profits. Owing to the need to stipulate standards and method of dividend calculation, an investigation was launched. Apparently and as I read from different sources MTDC has resumed handing out the dividends. Many are relieved that they can now collect their due dividends. But the sequence of events experienced this year leaves sufficient room for discussion and questions about the fate of MTDC and its ability to declare future dividends from cash flow alone are dubious than ever, given that regulations are on the way. On the other hand could MTDC and their team turn their business model into a real profit generating model from business activities and operations per se? If so, what should they be doing about it?

Maldives Stock Exchange Index: May 2006 - May 2008

Source: www.yasir.us

Related News:
Auditor General Calls For Liquidation Of MTDC
Auditor General wants to prosecute people involved in MTDC fraud

Resorts warning staff of disciplinary action should they participate in the 5th October strike

The planned tourist resort strike due to begin on 5th October and is creating a lot of hype locally and internationally. Global Travel Industry News (eTN) have already published travel advisory alert.

Locally, several resort managements are warning their staff of the consequences, as seen in the internal memo to the staff of Four Seasons Resorts sent out this week (copy below).

The memo said that although it respects the rights of the staff to participate in the protest off property and on their own time. It also bans staff from distributing leaflets and petitions on the property. Most Maldivian resorts are setup in a single island; hence this will forbid staff from doing any such work in any part of the island. So, it is difficult to see how they can adhere to this demand from the management.

On the final note, the management is clear in their intent to take disciplinary action against those who participate in the protest or in its organisation.

More than 20,000 resort staff are expected to take part in the 3 day strike demanding equal treatment under the new employment laws.

Despite stark threats and consequences from the resort managements and the authorities, the staff are getting ready for the first ever industrial strike in the country.

Source: doreview.blogspot.com

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Travel advisory alert - strike in Maldives
Tourism employees strike: Is it necessary?
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Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives will open in Addu Atoll during the fourth quarter of 2008 as the first Maldives resort with nature trails and weekly guided nature tours for guests provided by a resident expert. Unlike many resorts in the archipelago, Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives features a varied and natural landscape with 12 hectares of lush foliage, lagoons and native bird life.

The three-kilometre-long island offers guests the expected pristine sandy beaches and clear waters, but being surrounded by towering ancient Banyan trees and nature trails adds a different experience for seasoned travellers to the Maldives. The landscape of Villingili is dominated by 17,000 coconut trees and 45 plant species, including the noni plant, which is believed to be useful for the treatment of ailments such as arthritis and hypertension.

Guests looking for an energetic afternoon to commune with nature can catch the guided weekly walking tours to learn more about the flora on Villingili. Guests that are more adventurous can pack a picnic and explore the nature trails. The resort will provide trail maps and there will be plaques providing information about the plants along the route. Guests can stop for a picnic break by one of the three natural lagoons, naturally tinged in red, blue or green.

For guests who prefer to take in the views from the comfort of their villas, all land-based villas will offer views of the ocean and the verdant vegetation. Some, like the luxurious Tree House villas, are secluded and perched on three-metre stilts among the treetops. The Pool villas are surrounded by lush forest with views of the beach through tropical foliage.

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives is the first luxury resort in Addu Atoll. The resort, which is currently under development, will feature 142 villas with views of the ocean or the island’s natural lush vegetation. The Maldives’ second international airport, Gan International Airport, is an eight-minute boat ride away from the resort and Male International Airport is 70 minutes by air.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and manages 55 hotels under the Shangri-La and Traders brands with a rooms inventory of over 28,000. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.

The group has over 50 projects under development in Austria, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Japan, Macau, Maldives, Philippines, Qatar, Seychelles, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States. For more information or reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com

Source: www.maldivesguide.net

Win a trip to the Maldives

Angsana Velavaru, Maldives

On the remote South Nilandhe Atoll lies Angsana Velavaru, Maldives. This is a perfectly placed holiday resort, which blends contemporary design and marine biodiversity, with private beach villas and the acclaimed Angsana Spa.

So that you have the opportunity to visit, The Times is joining with Angsana Velavaru to give readers the chance to win a trip to the resort. The prize includes a seven-night stay for two people in a beachfront villa, including breakfast, and economy flights to Malé International Airport, which is a 40-minute journey by seaplane from Velavaru.

Find more information about this promotion on Times Online

Find more information about the Maldives and Maldives Resorts.

Source: www.maldivesguide.net

Travel advisory alert - strike in Maldives

Hotel and resort workers in Maldives, organized through the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM), have announced an indefinite strike in hotels, resorts, airports and other tourist enterprises from October 5, in support of their demand that basic labor rights for hotel and resort workers be enshrined in the laws of the country.

The hotel and resort industry of the Maldives accounts for more than 30 percent of the country’s national income yet employees in the industry have been specifically excluded from the new law which governs employment relations.

Travelers may, therefore, expect to experience disruption in their travel plans, a circumstance which TEAM deeply regrets.

Source: www.eturbonews.com

Related news:
Tourism employees strike: Is it necessary?
Tourism Employees Threaten Strike On 5 October

Letting Go is Easy to Do in Maldives

THE SHEER BEAUTY of the Maldives mesmerized me -- turquoise puddles appeared in the inky sea as we landed.

After the chaos, heat, and dust of a trip to India, it was like sinking in a bath laced with coconut oil. The colors of the sea and endless sky brought peace with no mosquitoes or bugs, no dirt, no hurry. It was the ultimate in letting go.

I have never met an island I did not like, especially an island where you can walk alone for an hour. But after 30 years of exploring special islands, I found what I ached for at Soneva Gili, a Six Senses resort.

The resort is located on one of many atolls surrounding the capital island of Male (pronounced MAA-lay). Guests arrive from Male by a speedboat launch or seaplane, which helps keep the resort separate and remote. In an effort to protect the country's natural beauty, Maldives allows only one resort per island.

Our launch pilot announced the resort's motto -- "No News, No Shoes" -- as we stepped aboard. He collected our shoes and put them in a white linen bag. On the beautiful sands of Soneva Gili, sandals or bare feet are strongly encouraged.

The trip across the Indian Ocean provided us with a 360-degree view of the turquoise sea dotted with atolls, all small and fringed with salt-white sand and fluttering palm trees.

Fifteen minutes later, our launch approached a long pier jutting into the placid sea.

Men dressed in white linen shirts, knee pants and bare feet greeted us. In a British accent, the manager welcomed us.

We were led down a long pier. Promising signs surrounding us were neatly raked white sands, palm trees, and a wave-free surf caressing the shore.

We were escorted to our 2,000-square-foot villa, one of 44 villas positioned over the water to greet the day as the sun rose. Jetties, like spokes on a wheel, jutted out into the ocean to connect some of the villas to the island resort.

We had our choice between two scents for our room: bergamot or ylang-ylang. Having heard of neither, we selected the citrusy bergamot. The fresh scent was alluring as the olfactory nerves worked overtime.

Each villa has a private open-air bathroom and sumptuous day bed. No detail here is overlooked. Terra cotta pots are available on the jetties to pour cool water on your feet. Even the china dishes have fluted edges to match the seashells on the beach.

Tourism is relatively new to the Maldives, where English is widely spoken. Although tourism is the main industry, only 87 of the 1,190 coral islands have resorts. As stewards of the land, the Maldives people limit the number of beds and keep the eco-conscious resorts spotless.

Soneva Gili also grows its own organic vegetables, so salads are fresh and artistically presented. Fish comes from the surrounding sea.

Meals on the pavilions overhanging the water were often solitary affairs. Privacy accompanied us wherever we seemed to go.

We skipped the pool -- too many people, three at one count. Instead, we sat on our platform and took in our surroundings. That was the point.

Villas and umbrellas darkened to the color of whipped honey under the setting sun. The horizon shifted from baby blue to apricot. It was dreamy, like the serial paintings of Monet's haystacks. Nature and mankind folded seamlessly into each other.

Letting go is often hard for Westerners. The Maldives people understand this. Soneva Gili sells it -- peace with no distraction, but for a price.

Most nights we refused the turn down service, but on the third night, we finally accepted. We watched as our attendant folded and twisted the sheets into a heart shape and sprinkled the bed with tangerine hibiscus.

As I approached the bed, I experienced my first whiff of ylang- ylang. A heady, unforgettable scent, it emanated from a sachet resting on the pillow.

The part of the brain that triggers memory best is scent. Sea captains, 10 miles from the Ceylon shore, would sprinkle cinnamon on the deck of their ships and invite passengers topside to "smell Ceylon" even before seeing it.

I packed the ylang-ylang sachet in the bottom of my suitcase. Back home, I opened the suitcase for one last scent of Maldives. Lifting the lid, it was like clicking my heels three times and once more, I was there.If you go-- GETTING THERE: Fly into the International Airport at Male. Then take a 20-minute speedboat ride to the North Male Atoll. Seaplanes also are available.-- THE VILLAS: Soneva Gili by Six Senses on Lankanfushi Island, North Male Atoll (011-960-664-0304, www.sixsenses.com/soneva-gili) has 44 over-water villas and one private reserve. Each has its own private water garden, sun deck and open-air private bathroom. Rates start at $1,477 per night.-- ON-SITE AMENITIES: The resort has two spas, a pool, library, tennis courts, gym, table tennis and volleyball court. A minimum three-night stay includes a bottle of wine, 20- minute spa treatment per person, cocktail party on Tuesdays, teas and coffees in the villa, yoga and tai chi sessions, use of the sauna and steam room, and free access to nonmotorized water sport activities, such as windsurfing and canoeing. For an additional fee, diving school, deep-sea fishing, dolphin cruises and snorkeling are available.-- DINING: The resort has a restaurant, gourmet cellar, over-the-water bar and lounge, organic vegetable garden lunch and in- villa dining.

Originally published by Sandra Scranton, Contra Costa Times Correspondent.

Source:

World’s Best Eco-Spas - Banyan Tree Maldives Vabbinfaru

The spa: Banyan Tree Maldives Vabbinfaru

Green peace: For Banyan Tree, going green made good business sense: The resort is located at a top dive site, so protecting the ocean environment was crucial. The efforts started with construction: building materials arrived via small boats so as not to disturb the shallow-water marine life, and villas were constructed on the footprint of the island’s previous property to preserve trees and prevent beach erosion. Today, an on-site marine lab assists in coral regeneration and the conservation of green sea turtles. Guests can help too by documenting sea species that are on the verge of extinction. Any oil used for power is piped in, so oil tankers stay far from shore, and water is filtered through an ecologically sound desalination process. But there’s no need to stress over your CFCs and VOCs: The green factor is just a subtle current in an all-around luxury-focused experience. So as you lie under a thatched-roof cabana while a masseuse uses herb-filled pouches to rub your body with warm sesame oil, there’s no need to curb your appetite for excessive well-being.

Signature treatment: The Javanese Lulur, a 17th-century pre-wedding practice, starts with a deep-tissue massage followed by a turmeric scrub and cool yogurt splash for the skin ($205).

Banyan Tree Maldives
Tel: 960 664 3147

Cinnamon Island Alidhoo wins grand PATA award

Cinnamon Island Alidhoo in the Maldives a resort managed by the John Keells Group was conferred the Grand PATA award for the ‘Education and Training’ category at a sparkling presentation luncheon held in Hyderabad, India recently.

The project was titled ‘We Shared and We Cared’; the Cinnamon Island Alidhoo award-winning project is a new School of Hospitality at its premises. The initiative began as an energetic local recruitment drive and gradually snowballed into an unprecedented opportunity for the women and young people of the Barah and Utheem islands in the Maldives, to transform themselves into well-trained hoteliers. Starting this year, the resort’s parent company, Keells Hotel Management Services Limited, invested to operate a hotel school in which the curriculum is focused on providing the youth of the islands neighbouring Cinnamon Island Alidhoo with skills that would equip them to enter the industry.

Commenting on the award, Jayantissa Kehelpannala, Sector Head – Resort Hotels and Executive Vice President- John Keells Group, said, “We are delighted to receive this PATA award, for it is a reflection of the strength and spirit of the brand. The School of Hospitality is the off-spring of our foray into truly sustainable development, which lives by a win-win ethic. This is an initiative that benefits the people as much as the industry and I am glad we have been instrumental in making a difference.”

He also expressed his thanks to Masters DDB, who did an excellent job in preparing and presenting the application, helping it to stand out amongst the many received – a total of 258 entries from 108 travel and tourism organisations.”

Cinnamon Island Alidhoo is the flagship resort of Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts – the John Keells Group’s premier hospitality brand – and was the first Cinnamon branded resort in the Maldives. Unveiled on the July 1st, 2007, it is the first of its kind established in the widely undiscovered atoll of Haa Alifu which is in the northern most part of the Maldives.
Source:

Tourism employees strike: Is it necessary?

Are the authorities taking the planned tourism employees strike seriously? After all, if the strike goes ahead on October 5^th, it could cripple the industry and result in losses running into millions of dollars.

According to Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM) they are demanding the rights of employees guaranteed in the recently passed Employment Law. Currently Article 34 of the Law excludes them.

TEAM says they have already given 100 days notice to the government and are still willing to call off the strike if measures are taken to amend the law. Failing that TEAM says 70% of resort employees will stop work come October 5^th.

The percentage of foreign employees joining the strike may be lower than that figure, TEAM says. This is because they have no job security and can be deported by employers at will. This revelation speaks volumes about the working conditions in what resort owners would like to call a world class industry.

Maldives has a total of 110,231 employees (Statistical Yearbook 2007). Out of them the largest category in formal employment comprises the roughly 40,000 government employees. The second largest category is that of tourism employees (totaling 12,090). A large percent of those in other categories are either self employed or have informal arrangements with their bosses. Realistically speaking therefore, the Law cannot be applied to them. So the very purpose of the law comes into question if tourism workers are excluded from its purview.

What do the 12,000 odd tourism employees get from the industry? Assuming an average monthly salary of Rf 4000, the total annual wage bill would be Rf 580 million. Compared to this the GDP from tourism at market prices is Rf 3.7 billion (calculated from the figure of Rf 2.789 billion given as tourism GDP at basic price –Yearbook 2007). So the employees' share of the GDP from tourism is 16%.

Exclusion from the Employment Law deprives resort workers of their basic rights guaranteed under the law: minimum wage, overtime, maximum working hours, job security, leave, etc. So why were they excluded? This may have something to do with the presence of a large number of Members in the Majlis who have direct interests in the tourist industry. The original bill presented to the Majlis did not exclude tourism workers, but at some stage in the Majlis debate the relevant clause appeared in the draft and was passed.

Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) is quite effective in protecting resort owners. Who will protect the resort employees?
Source: Abdullah Waheed's Blog

Related news:
Tourism Employees Threaten Strike On 5 October

Taj Exotica adds pools and extended decks to each of the Deluxe Lagoon Villas

Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is delighted to report that Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, Maldives continues to go from strength to strength following some exciting developments during 2008. Located on Emboodhu Finolhu Island the resort is located in an exotic idyll surrounded by crystal clear waters and lush tropical flora.

This year will see the introduction of The Wedding Pavilion which offers guests a paradisiacal marriage option afloat the tranquil turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Built in a traditional South Asian style, the pavilion resembles the temples and shrines that dot the Maldivian landscape. A long wooden pier leads guests from the Taj Exotica beach to the stunning island where the open-sided structure, supported by wonderful antique wooden columns, affords unparalleled panoramic views.

To complete the experience, the surrounding sand bank is specifically designed to host both pre- ceremony cocktails and post- ceremony dinners and parties. As dusk falls and the celebrations run on into the night the area is lit up by miniature oil lamps that dance in the gentle evening breeze.

The most recent news from Taj Exotica is the completion of the addition of pools and extended decks to each of the Deluxe Lagoon Villas. Guests can now experience the ultimate in luxury and privacy as they relax on their private sundeck and take a plunge in the pool whilst gazing out over the stunning Indian Ocean.

Whether dining in one of the resorts fantastic restaurants, experiencing the 24 hour In- villa dining valet services or choosing your own, personal spot for the an unforgettable private dining experience, Taj Exotica Maldives promises to cater for every taste with several exciting additions to the F&B offerings.

Guests can now experience the ultimate in romantic trysts, with a Champagne Sunset experience, located on the recently emerged sand bank in an unparalleled spot in the middle of the tranquil turquoise lagoon. Taj Exotica's dining options have also expanded to include the Ocean Pavilion which is located in a unique position suspended over the stunning Indian Ocean, allowing diners to experience sheer luxury and uninterrupted privacy.

The resort has also updated a handpicked selection of over four hundred prestigious wines from around the world; including a vintage Californian chardonnay aged with gold leafs inside the bottle. Also for wine lovers, Taj Exotica has introduced Thematic Wine Tasting Evenings at the resort's Equator bar. With themes including Hidden Gems, Burst of Bubbles - giving the opportunity to try sparkling wines from all over the globe, and Romance with Rosé there is something for everyone.

The Jiva Grande Spa continues to offer sheer indulgence and luxury with Indian inspired treatments carried out in the resort's private island sanctuary. The Spa includes a unique Ayurveda Sanctuary Pavilion, where this time tested ancient art is administered following an individual consultation with the resident Ayurveda physician. The Spa also offers various other holistic Indian therapies and treatments offering complete rejuvenation for mind, body and soul.

END.

For Further information please contact:
Thushara Liyanarachchi
Director of Sales
Taj Maldives (Pvt) Ltd
Taj Exotica Resort and Spa
Taj Coral Reef Resort
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G.Rosary,Husnuheena Magu,Male, Republic of Maldives
Tel - 009603325971 Fax 00960 3314059
email – thushara.liyanarachchi@tajhotels.com website www.tajhotels.com

The Regent Maldives Scheduled Opening Date

Greetings from the Regent Maldives Sales and Marketing team!
The arrival of The Regent Maldives is exciting news. Located on the pristine white sands of the Thaa atoll, The Regent Maldives will set new standards in luxury accommodation. As we prepare for the launch of this 8-hectare sanctuary complete with fifty individual villas over land and water, boasting private plunge pools and stunning views across the lagoon, we would like to take this opportunity to update you on the Regent Maldives opening date.

The Resort is scheduled to open in summer of 2009, based on our commitment to excellence in the design and construction of the luxury property. While reflecting traditional architecture of the Maldivian setting, The Regent Maldives will feature contemporary design elements such as furnishing and fabrics sourced from around the world by acclaimed interior designers Hirsch Bedner Associates, and exotic semi-open bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers, to name a few. This is in keeping with attention to detail and uncompromising quality, which the signature Regent luxury brand is well known for. We will continue to keep you abreast of The Regent Maldives development and progress in the coming months. In the interim, please do not hesitate to contact us on any new opportunities, or should you have any further queries.

Tourism Employees Threaten Strike On 5 October

Up to 20,000 tourist resort staff will strike just three days before the country's first ever multi-party elections if they do not receive new legal rights, the Tourism Employees Association Maldives (TEAM) told Minivan News on Friday.

"We will strike on 5 October. For a long time we have been trying to resolve this amicably, but we haven't seen any progress," said TEAM spokesperson Mohamed Mihad.

The workers in the country's largest and most lucrative industry are demanding rights accorded to other employees in the Employment Act, which came into force in July. These include maximum working hours, a minimum wage and regulations on dismissal.

Tourist resort employees were excluded from the Act, in a move information minister Mohamed Nasheed described at the time as a "mistake".

Industrial Action

"Everyone we have spoken to on the resorts is ready to strike. We believe the entire tourism industry is with us," Mihad told Minivan News.

Industrial action could spell chaos for visitors to the country, who come from all over the world, with the biggest markets the UK and Italy.

The unprecedented strike would also come just three days before the country's first ever multi-party presidential elections on 8 October.

TEAM president Ahmed Easa said the strike was planned for election time "so we know who is on our side and who is not, for when we vote."

TEAM, which was formed in July, has 10,000 registered members but says it estimates 15,000 to 20,000 will strike, with the length of strike to be determined by the government's response.

The Maldives is especially renowned as a luxury honeymoon destination and for its world-class scuba diving.

20,000 employees work on resorts alone, with an unknown additional number employed on safari boats and as reps for travel companies.

"We know this will have big impact and that's why we have been trying to sort this out amicably," said Mihad. "But no one is prepared to take responsibility."

Rights

Tourism employees, along with those working at factories on uninhabited islands, were excluded from most new rights awarded to workers through the Employment Act in July.

When the issue emerged in May, ahead of the bill coming into effect, information minister Mohamed Nasheed said the exclusion was a "mistake". The intention was only to exclude the sectors from certain specific provisions, he said.

An amendement has been drafted to ensure resort and factory employees receive the rights, though with exemptions on provisions such as maximum working hours.

But the amendment remains at committee stage as parliament focuses on new laws and institutions for elections. TEAM is sceptical as to whether its members' rights will be a priority.

"Our parliament is dominated by businessmen, most of them resort owners," said Mihad. "...Even in the last four months there have been a lot of difficulties."

TEAM president Easa said, "I do not believe the political leaders of this country are concerned about citizens' rights. Otherwise in the past 4 to 5 months 50,000 employees [TEAM's estimate of tourism sector employment] would have gained their rights."

Timeline

Speaker of parliament Mohamed Shihab told Minivan News, "I cannot say whether this bill will pass before or after elections. The Majlis [parliament] will proceed according to regulations...it will be the MPs who decide."

The amendment will appear on the agenda as soon as the parliamentary committee completes its report, Shihab said.

This looks set to be in the early days of October, as the Majlis will hold a recess once it finishes pre-election work, and return on 1 October.

Committee chair Ibrahim "Mavota" Shareef said the report was currently being drafted.

"There is no situation for people to come out and fight for their rights," he told Minivan News. "Actually the Majlis is not thinking of taking away rights from anyone in the tourism industry."

Rights

Mihad says resort staff currently receive poor treatment, especially when it comes to hiring and firing.

"This is low season [for occupancy]...the season of dismissing staff. Resort owners do it as they see fit," he says. "Resort management conducts resorts according to their mood. There is no job guarantee and no fair distribution of service charges."

The Employment Act entitles workers in Maldives – whatever their citizenship – to a minimum wage, at a rate to be set by the minister of employment, though this has not yet been carried out.

It also limits working hours to 48 per week and entitles workers to annual leave, maternity leave and 15-minute prayer breaks.

It sets procedures for contesting unfair dismissal, and creates a tribunal to deal with disputes.

Provisions apply to both Maldivians and expatriate workers, who make up about half of those employed in the tourism industry.

"In some resorts the foreigners are with us, but we are mostly targeting locals," Mihad said.

TEAM plans to become a fully-fledged union now that trade unions are permitted under the country's new constitution, ratified on 7 August.

Maldivian uses IBS' Passenger Services System

Maldivian, the national airline of Maldives, has gone live with IBS’ new-generation Passenger Service System, aiRES in the Software as a Service (SaaS) mode. The solution will help the airline manage its passenger reservations, inventory control, fares & ticketing, and departure control functions.

Maldivian has chosen IBS’ solution for its cost-effectiveness, optimum fit, short implementation time and flexible features that include Web Distribution, GDS, and Credit Card payment gateways. Through its open architecture, aiRES will enable Maldivian to broaden its customer service offering by integrating it with its distribution channels.

Maldivian operates scheduled flights both to domestic destinations as well as to the regional destination, Trivandrum in India and is looking to add more such destinations such as Colombo, Sri Lanka in November 2008 to boost tourism to the island nation and more importantly to provide greater convenience for the locals traveling abroad. aiRES provides the airline the rich functionality and the flexible and scalable architecture required to help address its growth needs and the business agility to adapt to the requirements of a changing and competitive market. The SaaS (hosted) version of the new-generation system allows Maldivian to utilize the complete functionality of the system to improve customer experience, in a very cost-effective manner, being required to pay on a transaction basis. This is especially significant at a time when rising costs driven by fuel prices, are driving airlines to look for effective ways to reduce operational costs in other areas.

According to Ahmed Zuhair, Director Commercial at Maldivian; “as the company is making every step in all directions to expand and enhance operations within the domestic and the regional sectors, it became absolutely necessary for the airline to invest in a reservation system that would not only full fill all the requirements of the airlines reservations today but also acquire a system that can grow with the airline and would actually facilitate to improve future service delivery efficiently”.

According to V K Mathews, Chairman & CEO IBS Group, “Our vision at IBS, has been to provide transformational business solutions for the air transportation industry and we have not been afraid to push the envelop of change, despite industry skepticism and misgivings. That we have succeeded in conceiving, developing and successfully delivering a completely integrated new-generation system to handle this complex business process underscores our commitment to provide airlines with new-generation solutions that cater to all their business and operational needs. We are delighted that Maldivian has chosen our Passenger Services System and joined the growing number of airlines looking to move away from the current legacy systems and opt for new-generation technology to help remain competitive in dynamically evolving markets.”

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About aiRES

aiRES is an integrated, multi-hosting system that addresses passenger reservations, inventory control, fares & ticketing, and departure control functions of commercial airlines. The functional coverage and packaging of the product is such that it supports the needs of all airlines, from sophisticated full service carriers to low cost operators. aiRES is designed to help airlines improve economies, enhance service quality, and improve revenues and profitability whilst actually reducing the cost of ownership of the system.

The object oriented, component architecture of aiRES makes it scalable and easily customizable to suit the diverse business needs of airlines. Technologically, aiRES marks the beginning of a new era of opportunities for airlines' passenger services business that will help them migrate from the decades old legacy paradigm. With its multi-hosting capability, aiRES also becomes an attractive option for hosting service providers.

About Maldivian

Maldivian; owned and operated by Island Aviation Service Ltd is the main domestic carrier in the Maldives, catering for the demand of the domestic travelers since April 2000 and in January 2008, made the first leap towards regional operations by commencing daily flights to Trivandrum, India and today operates twice daily to the destination.

Beginning operations with only 1 Dornier-228 (16 seats) and 1 Dash8-200 (37 seats) aircraft in 2000, the airline has been expanding its operations domestically as well as regionally by introducing additional frequencies to the four domestic and regional destinations. In addition the airline is gearing up to commence operations to Colombo, Sri Lanka on 6th November 2008 adding one more regional destination to the companies list.

Since the operations began in 2000, Maldivian has been busy acquiring aircrafts yearly in order to cater for the demands of the domestic market as well as for its regional operations. The fleet today consists of 1 Dornier-228 (16 seats), 2 Dash8-200 (37 seats), and 2 Dash8-300 (50 seats) aircrafts.

About IBS

The IBS Group (IBS) is a leading provider of new-generation IT solutions to the global Travel, Transportation and Logistics industry. A specialist in the domain, IBS offers a range of products that manage mission-critical operations of major airlines, airports, oil and gas companies, seaports, cruise lines and tour operators world-wide. Services from IBS include technology consulting, product development, business intelligence, data warehousing, application development, re-engineering, and maintenance. SEI CMMI Level-5 and PCMM Level 5 assessed, ISO 9001:2000, TickIT and ISO 27001:2005 certified, IBS operates software development centers in Cochin, Trivandrum, Washington DC, Boston and London. IBS also operates out of fourteen business centers in the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.

More information on IBS is available at www.ibsplc.com.

Soneva Fushi Resort and Spa - Extreamy amazing

Kunfunadhoo Island, Baa Atoll, Maldives: Soneva Fushi Resort and Spa, is where Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Sir Paul McCartney, George Michael getaway from it all. Why is it that these celebs know exactly where to go green, with the utmost in privacy - the isle is only reached via a 30-minute floatplane from the mainland, and do it in the most luxurious way possible. This place is tops - with gourmet chefs, a wine cellar, private spa rooms, your own butler… who could ask for more!

Since the opening of Six Senses’ flagship resort in 1995, Soneva Fushi has made sustainability a priority, without compromising the experience and expectations of guests. It’s true, the resort has demonstrated that luxury and minimal environmental impact are compatible. The company’s core purpose “to create innovative and enriching experiences in a sustainable environment” as well as the Soneva philosophy of “Intelligent Luxury” indicate how much emphasis is placed on providing the ultimate holiday experience, while at the same time being socially and environmentally responsible.

Another plus: Soneva Fushi aims to be Carbon Free by 2010, Spearheading Carbon Emission Strategies in the Maldives

This commitment has been recognized: Soneva Fushi has received the President of Maldives’ Green Resort Award twice (in 2000 and 2006) and the Green Leaf Award in 2003 and won the Bronze award this year with the Green Globe Benchmarked organization.
Kudos to you, Kunfunadhoo!

www.sixsenses.com/soneva-fushi

Auditor General Calls For Liquidation Of MTDC

The auditor general has called for the liquidation and abolishment of public tourism firm the Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), saying in a report submitted to parliament that it is “controlled” by the Villa group of companies and Champa company.

The report finds Villa, which is owned by Republican Party presidential candidate and former finance minister Gasim Ibrahim, holds “not less than 27 per cent of shares” and Champa – assumed to refer to Champa Brothers – five per cent, despite MTDC being set up for the redistribution of tourism wealth.

Villa had bought the shares through proxies, and has deposited over Rf 8,851,590 (US $691,530) in dividends into Villa’s bank accounts.

Attorney general Azima Shukoor on Sunday told Minivan News a criminal prosecution would be launched for corporate fraud over illicit share trading in MTDC.

Republican Party spokesperson Dr. Hussein Rasheed Hassan said the government was “finding things to attack [Gasim] personally to stop the support and respect the party is getting.”

Liquidate

Auditor General Ibrahim Naeem has called for an immediate freeze on trading of MTDC shares, liquidation of the company and a criminal prosecution.

“We recommend this because the two bodies control the company to the extent it cannot be considered a public company,” the report says.

Transfer of shares from proxies to Villa and Champa is still “incomplete and ongoing,” according to the report, and liquidation is necessary because “selling the shares from the two bodies that control the shares cannot free the company from their hands.”

“Expansion and strengthening of the financial market can be achieved by not giving the opportunity for such crimes,” the report says.

Proxies

It is “evident” Villa used 1,986 proxies to buy shares, and then transferred shares using stockbroker Aariya Securities to 79 people “who are all employees and family of Villa,” the report finds.

Proxies are used because individuals can directly buy only 100 shares from MTDC, but if purchasing on the stock market, they can own up to 2,500 shares.

Seven cheques amounting to Rf 22,653,200 (US $ 1,768,375) from the Villa Trading Group were deposited into MTDC’s bank account at the Bank of Maldives to buy shares for 2270 people.

Payment vouchers and copies of cheques obtained by the auditor general show the dividends of 39 shareholders, amounting to Rf 8,851,590 (US $ 691,530), were then deposited directly into Villa bank accounts.

“This shows they [proxies] are not the actual owners of the shares, but Villa,” the report says. Further evidence cited says the stock certificates of proxies were collected from MTDC by four individuals working for Villa.

The report also says Villa controls MTDC’s board of directors. “Villa controlled a 53.21 per cent majority of the Annual General Meeting through proxies…Because of this, excluding the four directors appointed by the state, the four directors elected by the public are elected and controlled by Villa,” the report concludes.

The board had in July decided to pay a record dividend of Rf90 (US $7.03) per share, though finance regulator the Capital Markets Development Authority recommended a dividend on actual profits of just Rf4.21 (US $0.33) per share.

Political?

The government’s Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party lost no time in releasing a press statement saying, “There is opportunity to say that because Gasim bought shares using proxies, and transferred 90 per cent of the profits of those shares for his own personal gain, the work that he does for the benefit of the people is actually for his own benefit.”

And the Republican Party condemned the report as politically motivated.

Dr Hussein Rasheed said, “The government will do things to reduce the support we have…[Gasim] has done nothing against the law that he will be unable to defend.”

Social Liberal Party presidential candidate Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) said that when MTDC was founded in 2006, when Gasim was finance minister, “I put in a resolution to the Majlis [parliament] and I called for MTDC to be stopped, because I believed all this was going to happen.”

“I think it was people like Azima, at the time, who argued against this and voted it down,” Ibra said. “[But] at that time Gasim was in the DRP, and now he is out of it.”

Share Buying

The report finds Champa bought the shares in cash, rather than with cheques, but as an individual working for Champa collected the stock certificates of over 288 people, Champa now controls “not less than five per cent of shares.”

The 288 shares were then transferred to seven family members. The company referred to as Champa is believed to refer to Champa Brothers, owned by Mohamed Moosa, rather than the separate Champa group of companies, headed by MTDC chairperson “Champa” Hussein Afeef.

Ahmed Shiyam Mohamed, vice-president of the government’s Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and owner of Sun Travel and Tours, “has also bought MTDC shares for some people, his long term employees,” the report says.

However, the report appears to defend Shiyam, saying he had told the AG shares had “not been transferred to his relatives and had not been brought under his control…This office has not noticed these shares have been transferred, but work to locate those shares is ongoing.”

Fraud?

Azima told Minivan News “We have received a very constructive report from the auditor general… We will move towards taking action on the criminal aspects.”

However, she said Maldivian law on corporate crime and fraud was “a bit weak” and said this was the “first case, as far as I can remember” involving corporate crime in the Maldives.

Meanwhile, a legal expert who wished to remain anonymous said, “Corporate fraud is not stated or defined in [Maldivian] law. Fraud under the penal code is defined as deception for personal gain creating a loss for the other.”

Because shares were bought with the consent of proxies, it may be difficult to try Villa in courts for fraud, he said. “They must prove where corporate fraud is illegal. People can be prosecuted only if they violate a published law.”

Article 61 of the constitution states no person can be subjected to any punishment except under regulations backed by a law which defines the criminal offence.

Related news:
Auditor General wants to prosecute people involved in MTDC fraud

Yoga + dive - a winning combination at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

Yoga Guru Katy Appleton takes diving to the next level

Situated in a secluded corner of the South Ari Atoll, the luxurious Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is surrounded by some of the world’s best dive sites. In order to improve guests’ under-water experiences, the resort has teamed up with Yoga guru Katy Appleton to offer unique ‘Dive and Yoga Bliss’ packages during her visit to the resort, from 20-30 October 2008.

A keen diver, Katy Appleton has long recognised the benefits of yoga as a tool to enhance the quality of her diving experience. Teaming up with the resort’s Sub Aqua Dive Centre, Katy will offer guests two course options: ‘Discover Scuba/Yoga’ for beginners and ‘Yoga Scuba’ for experienced and certified divers.

The beginners’ course will begin with 90 minutes practicing specific yoga techniques with Katy Appleton, focusing on breathing, meditation and relaxation techniques to assist with under-water relaxation. This will be followed by a diving programme in the resort’s beautiful shallow reef, accompanied by Katy Appleton and Sub Aqua Manager Alexis Vincent.

Those with previous dive experience can join Katy for 60 minutes of Yoga practice, focusing on relaxing the body and mind, in order to reduce air consumption and promote a more fulfilling experience. This will be followed by a boat dive, enabling participants to practice their newly acquired breathing skills.

Katy Appleton’s visit will form an integral part of the resort’s ‘Path to Balance’ retreat, held at the resort’s stand-alone destination Spa Retreat, from 20-30 October 2008. The retreat will offer guests at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island the opportunity to work with three inspirational holistic specialists, selected from the world’s best. Yoga specialist Katy Appleton will be joined by Energy Queen, Dorinda Roseberry and Reiki Master, Nikon Banjerdlert.

Guests can choose from a variety of Retreat options, from one-to-one sessions to extensive multi-day courses, combining spa treatments, fitness and yoga classes and consultations with visiting practitioners as well as the resorts’ Naturopath.

A Dive and Yoga Bliss session costs $200/£115. For further information on the retreat, please email spamaldives@conradhotels.com. For further details about Katy Appleton’s visit, please visit www.appleyoga.com.

Auditor General wants to prosecute people involved in MTDC fraud

Auditor General Ibrahim Naeem has recommended liquidating public tourism company Maldives Tourism Development Corporation MTDC and initiate criminal prosecution against those involved in illicit trading of its shares. Auditor General has opined in his report that it does not appear possible to salvage the company by merely selling the shares of major share holders and involving these two parties and the company as a whole in fraudulent trading of shares and other irregularities will have serious repercussions to the stock market. He was of the view that the company must be liquidated.

According to a report submitted by the Auditor General to the People's Majlis and issued on the website of that of Auditor General's office, Villa Group and Champa has been involved in illicit trading of shares. Villa group of companies were owned by former finance minister and presidential candidate of Jumhoory Party Gasim Ibrahim, while Champa Brothers is owned by Champa Ahmed Moosa. Ahmed Moosa is a brother of the Chairman of MTDC Hussain Afeef.

The 16 page report said the public company formed in April 2006 to reap the benefits of tourism to the general people, was in the hands of two sources, Villa and Champa acquiring very large percent of the shares of the company. It said Villa controls 27% and Champa 5% of the 1,145,210 shares sold to the general public.

The report discloses Villa has bought Mrf 19.8 million worth of shares in the name of 1986 persons while general rule was to sell 100 shares each share holder. The report further pointed these shares were transferred to persons of families representing Villa in a discreet manner. Regarding the shares bought by Champa, the report said they have paid for these shares in a smarter way that is they have not paid by cheque.

The report also blamed the government for the inappropriate manner in which government has made payments for its 1.5 million shares. Government has first paid a total of Mrf 51.3 million, that is Mrf 50 million for 500,000 shares and a sum of Mrf 1,310,700 received for rent of Herathera Resort. It has been arranged to pay the balance from the 10 year rent of Herethere resort. Auditor General criticized the government for not complying with corporate rules in making payment for its shares.

The report was discussed by the Finance Committee of the People's Majlis yesterday behind closed doors. There is no information on what transpired from this meeting. However it is learnt reliably the committee was extremely concerned about the matter. There is also information Attorney General's Office is conducting a thorough investigation into the matter. Share holders of the company from the general public are shocked and very worried about the matter. Many of them have still not received the dividends for their shares.

Pre bid meeting of Thoddoo Resort project held

Pre bid meeting to provide information for the development of the 200 bed resort at Thoddoo of Alif Alif atoll was held yesterday at the ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, according to the ministry.

At the meeting information regarding the project was provided to interested bidders. According to the ministry bid documents will be available for purchase till 1330 hours on 29 th of this month. Local parties will be able to purchase bid documents for Rf2000 while the documents will be sold to interested foreign parties at the price of US$300.

The ministry informed that participation in the bid requires a US$100,000 bank guarantee, and submitted bid proposals will be opened on 29 September in the presence of all bidders. Ministry of Tourism invited bid proposals for the development of Thoddoo Resort on 19 August 2008.

Thoddoo is mainly an agricultural island and is the fourth inhabited island to be announced to be leased under the government initiated project to bring tourism closer to the inhabited islands of the atolls where the lagoon of an inhabited island is reclaimed for the development of tourist resort. The three other islands tendered under the project are are Haa Alifu atoll Kelaa and Laamu atoll Gaadhoo. Kaafu atoll Kaashidhoo has already been leased for such a ‘reef resort’.

Spa-Tacular Rangali Island - Luxurious island resort picks up two nominations at the Spa Asia 2008 Crystal Awards

The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is up for nomination at the Spa Asia 2008 Crystal Awards in the Best Resort Spa and Best Destination Spa categories. Spread across two islands, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and lagoon, the resort is once again proving it is more than just a picturesque destination.

Since re-branding in 2007, the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island has continued to pick up a streak of awards and accolades, most recently the ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Hotel 2008’ in The World Travel Awards. The Spa Asia awards are designed to honour the best in the industry and the nominations reflect the continuing development of the resorts’ world-class spa offerings.

With an Over-Water Spa, dedicated to pampering couples treatments in spectacular glass floored treatment rooms, and the Maldives’ only destination Spa Retreat, boasting 21 Spa Water Villas with private treatment room and in-villa mini gym, a gourmet spa restaurant and tailor-made wellness packages; the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island offers the widest choice for spa aficionados in the Indian Ocean.

For the younger visitors a range of treatments from manicures to pedicures, body scrubs and body massages are also now available in the new Ice Cream Spa, designed to look like an old-fashioned ice cream parlour and offering a range of delicious indulgencies including a ‘Super Sundae Supreme’ body scrub. From this autumn, both the Over-Water Spa and Spa Retreat will launch a brand new range of treatments and therapies.

Source - Travel Blackboard

“Maldivian” gets a new 50-seat airplane

Island Aviation Services’ airline division, Maldivian, has procured a new Dash-8 50-seat plane for their services.

The new “Maldivian” airplane took off from Caines, Australia with four Maldivians onboard on 11 October and arrived in Maldives last Tuesday afternoon.

The Maldivians onboard the plane during the trip were the company’s pilots Captain Fathuhulla Jameel, Captain Mohamed Sunoosee Zahir and two engineers Ali Firaq and Abdul Haadhee Abdulla.
The airplane was originally scheduled to arrive on 10 October but, according to Captain Fathuhulla Jameel, it had been delayed because Andaman airport had been closed due to bad weather.

According to the company, the new plane, purchased from Germany’s Aircraft Asset Management for US$110 million, is the only plane in their fleet that is emblazoned with the company’s rebranded “Maldivian” company name logo and art decal. The company also said that the plane had been taken to Australia for some repairs and to paint the company’s logo on it.

The Assistant Director Human Resources and Administration, Ismail Shujau, said that the new airplane’s scheduled flights would begin next week.
“We have consulted with the engineers are ready to begin the flights next week,” he said. “Although we haven’t settled on a date yet the flights would commence sometime next week.”

Once the new plane comes into service, the number of daily flights to India will be increase to two flights and IAS has also decided to increase the number of daily flights to Sri Lanka.

Maldives , amazing!!!

The Island Hideaway at Dhonakulhi Maldives, Spa Resort & Marina

The Island Hideaway at Dhonakulhi Maldives, Spa Resort & Marina is a new luxury boutique resort situated on the privately-owned uninhabited virgin island of Dhonakulhi, North Maldives, Indian Ocean. The resort was opened on 1st August 2005 with 6 types of spectacular guest villas. Our marina is the first of its kind in the Maldives. The Island is a haven of peace, tranquillity and serenity. The Island Hideaway is one of the very few resorts (currently 3) in the Haa Alifu Atoll.

Maldives Wins Best Island Award 2008

The Maldives has won the Condé Nast Traveller’s Readers Best Island Award for the year 2008. Maldives scored well in all 10 scoring criteria including the top mark for beaches.

The Maldives won this milestone award from the readers’ poll by successfully competing against Greek Islands, Mauritius, Barbados and Hawaii etc. This is the third consecutive year that Maldives won this award.

In addition, six Maldives resorts were among the best hotels in Overseas Leisure Hotels in the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Ocean category. They are One & Only Reethi Rah, One & Only Kanuhura, Soneva Gili, Fourseasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, Cocoa Island Resort and Huvafenfushi.

Three more uninhabited islands put up for resort development

After a short break from putting up any more uninhabited islands for development as tourist resorts, the Tourism Minister has announced three more uninhabited islands are up for bidding.

The three uninhabited islands put up for bid by the Ministry of Tourism on Monday are Baa atoll Meyndhoo, Noonu atoll Huivani, and Gaafu Alifu atoll Lossaa.

The bidding documents for the three islands will be sold until 9 October, the Ministry said.

The pre-bid meeting for the islands, which require a US$100,000 bank guarantee to participate in, will be held on the 1st of next month and the opening of the bids will be held on the 13th of the month.

An official from the Tourism Ministry said that lowest rent that can be submitted for the islands are US$7,500 per bed annually. The official also said that even though an extended period of time would be given to develop the resorts, the rent has to be paid within 12 months of the signing of the agreement.

The three new islands have been put up for bid at a time when the previous Tourism Minister Dr. Mahmoud Shaugee, many officials from the industry, and some banks had said that it wasn’t a good idea to lease any more uninhabited islands for resort development.

After the Ministry’s decision to build resorts on inhabited islands, reclaiming land from the reef and lagoon of the islands to create parts of the resorts, the Ministry had put up four islands for bidding. Kaafu atoll Kaashidhoo was put up for bid twice under the new resort development policies and on the second time only one party expressed interest in the project. One of the other two islands up for bidding,

Haa Alifu atoll Kelaa, fared a little better with two parties expressing interest but the second island, Laamu atoll Gaadhoo, didn’t appeal to any potential investors.

Vodamula subleased to Fathuru Maldives

Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has leased the island of Ga. Vodamula to Fathuru Maldives for a period of 24 years. Fathuru Maldives is a company in which MTDC has 51% interest. The island of Vodamula is one of the islands given to MTDC by the government for the development and operation of a 300 bed tourist resort. The island was released to MTDC by the government for a period of 24 years.

According to Fathuru Maldives, under the terms of the lease agreement, the company is required to pay an average bed rent of US $ 9385 per bed per year for the first 10 years to MTDC. Further the construction is to be completed within 18 months from the date of receiving the authority to proceed with construction from the tourism ministry, which is given on submission of the resort concept and necessary plans and design of the resort.

The 51% share of MTDC in the company is to be paid up within 10 years through the lease rent,

Farthuru Maldives said.
Fathuru Maldives revealed that as per the decision taken at the Special General meeting on the 17 th of July this year, the company’s memorandum of articles have been amended to reflect corporate governance code and the company has been registered at the Trade Ministry on the 17 August 2008. The paid up capital of the company is Rf.200 Million Rufiya. The 51 % owned by Fathuru Maldives is at present owned by MTDC and the rest 49 % is to be sold to the public.

The Company informed that it was in final stages of opening up its shares for the first time to the public. The company estimates to commence selling in October.

South Asia Coral Reef Task Force meeting starts in the Maldives

Environment and Energy Ministry has revealed that the Second Meeting of the South Asia Coral Reef Task Force (SACRFT) was inaugurated on Saturday, 30 August 2008 by Deputy Minister of Environment Energy and Water Abdul Razaaq Idrees.

South Asia Coral Reef Task Force was established last in 2007 by the Environment, Energy and Water Minister Ahmed Abdulla under the project of long term management of costal and marine protected areas in South Asia region funded by the European Commission and supported y UNEP, and ICRAN and implemented by South Asia Co-operative Environment Program (SACEP).

According to Environment Ministry the main objective of this meeting is to discuss the progress of the task force since its inception, discuss the implementation and reporting of the fine selected educational grants, development for communication strategy, and regional Marine and research; monitoring and policy issues in addition identify ways and sustainable financing and institutionalization of the task force regionally and nationally.

At the inauguration dinner held at Hulhule’ Island Hotel (HIH) yesterday night, the Deputy Minister highlighted that the establishment of the south Asia Coral Reef Task Force was to facilitate and coordinate in the management of coral reefs and associated ecosystems at a national level, to promote collaboration action at the regional level, encourage trans boundary responses to share environment challenges and raising the political and public profile of coral reef related issues in South Asia.

The meeting is attended by delegates from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan in addition to Maldives. The working sessions will start on 31 August 2008, ministry said.

Kelaa & Gadhoo resort bids to be opened on 3 Sep 2008

Tourism Ministry has revealed that bid opening ceremony of Ha. Kelaa Resort and Gadhoo Resort of Laamu atoll will be held at MooKai Hotel at 1300 hours on the 3rd of September 2008.

Tourism ministry tendered the resorts under the government policy of developing resorts in some large inhabited islands. According to the ministry a 200 bed resort is to be constructed by reclaiming the islands natural lagoons.

According to the ministry although the bid pr

oposals for resorts are currently accepted at the ministry’s reception, arrangements will be in place to accept the bid proposals directly at the conference hall of MooKai Hotel on the day scheduled for bid opening. In this regard, arrangements will be in place to accept the bids from 1000 hours on the 3 rd of September from MooKai Hotel. Ministry said the deadline to accept the bid proposals will lapse at 1300 hours on the same day.

Tourism ministry informed that local parties will be able to purchase bid documents for MRF2000 while the documents will be sold to interested foreign parties at the price of USD300. According to the ministry, participation in the bid requires a USD100,000 bank guarantee.

Registration of participants taking part in bid opening ceremony will continue from 1000 hours on the 3 of September at MooKai Hotel. Ministry said all participants wishing to take part in the bid opening ceremony must complete registration formalities before 1245 and must be seated in the ceremony hall before 1300 hours. Ministry said each bidder can register only 2 members.

So far, the government has put up 4 islands for tender under the government project to construct resorts in inhabited islands. The other 2 islands are Kaafu atoll Kaashidhoo and Ali Alif Thoddoo.

Alila Hotels Opens Eco-Luxe Resort In The Maldives

Alila Hotels and Resorts is pleased to announce its first sustainable tourism resort development in the Maldives - Alila Villas Hadahaa. Slated to open in 2009, it is the first resort in the Maldives to commit to the standards of Green Globe throughout its design, construction stages. It achieved the prestigious Green Globe ‘Building Planning and Design Standard’ Certified Status in August 2008.

"By joining the internationally-recognized Green Globe program and committing to having both its design and operations certified, Alila Villas Hadahaa is raising the benchmark for others to follow," said Andre Russ, Head of Global Markets for Green Globe.

Green Globe is the international benchmarking and certification programme for the travel and tourism industry based on the Agenda 21 principles for Sustainable Development endorsed by 182 Heads of State at the United Nations Rio Earth Summit in 1992. Green Globe is managed by EC3 Global, a subsidiary of the Australian based research body Sustainable Tourism Co-operative Research Centre, the world’s largest source of tourism research.

Alila Villas Hadahaa is set on the pristine tropical island of Hadahaa in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, surrounded by a vast expanse of sea, stunning coral reef, abundant fish life, and stands of the native Sea Trumpet and Sea Hearse. In developing the island, Alila kept to Green Globe’s rigorous ‘Building Planning and Design Standard’ benchmarks and its own long-standing philosophy of luxury living in natural environments, while treading lightly to preserve the essence of a destination.

Reflecting Alila’s vision of integrating commerce, conservation and community, the appointed architect, Yale-trained and Singapore-based Chan Soo Khian of SCDA Architects, creatively blended architecturally innovative designs in keeping to strict environmental standards. His design and construction blueprints were guided by Alila Villas Hadahaa’s environmental impact studies.

Chan’s sustainable design goals were to protect the environment and be as energy efficient as possible. To achieve these objectives, Chan orientated buildings to best deal with the tropical climate and natural environment of the island. Other innovations include rainwater harvesting, waste treatment plants, high roofed areas and open ceilings, cross ventilation in all indoor spaces, deep roof overhangs and windows shading. His concept of the resort, while contemporary in nature, makes use of many natural materials, including coconut, timber and coral stones found in the region.

Notably, the resort site will have a very low building and infrastructure coverage area. Only approximately 20% of the property will be built-up. Large areas of the site are designated for biodiversity protection, where native species will be selected and reintroduced to help maintain the existing gene pool. This will result in biodiversity replenishment, something vital to the area.

The $40 million resort will feature 14 Aqua Villas and 36 Island Villas, 20 of which come with a private pool. In-resort facilities and services include the Leisure Concierge, a dive centre, a tropical island garden spa, a fully-equipped gym, a Maldivian specialty fine dining restaurant, a rooftop lounge, the Alila Living boutique and a library with a star-gazing roof. All resort villas and facilities, strongly accented with Maldivian culture, are designed to integrate into the site as carefully as possible to preserve the natural beauty of the destination.

Sustainably planned and designed from the ground up, great care is now being taken in every detail of the construction of the resort to preserve the unique Maldivian experience and to ensure that environmental footprints are kept to a minimum. A local civil, building and labor contractor who is undertaking the major construction works will source construction materials locally wherever possible. Specifically, all building works of the jetty and Aqua Villas will only be carried out only during extreme low tides to minimize silt disturbance. There will be minimal site clearance as well, and to date, several villas were re-positioned during construction to preserve existing trees.

"I applaud Alila Villas Hadahaa for their commitment to a long term sustainable future with Green Globe and we take this opportunity to congratulate all those involved for their dedication and hard work," said Stewart Moore, Chief Executive Officer of EC3 Global.

By this commitment, Alila Villas Hadahaa is taking a leading role in helping to address the issues surrounding climate change and sustainability. It takes on a social responsibility beyond the design and construction stages to progressive operations. It will continuously monitor and assess the resort’s operational efficiency, ultimately achieving the Green Globe Company Standard. Alila intends to bring the Maldivian destination experience to an unparalleled level.

Alila Villas Hadahaa represents Alila’s next generation of luxury villa resorts that blend the ultimate in luxury with innovative lifestyle. Designed in harmony with its environment, Alila Villas are selectively developed to grace some of the most spectacular destinations in the world. Alila Hotels and Resorts is currently developing Alila Villas in Bali, India, Vietnam, Indochina, Oman and the Gulf regions.

Alila Hotels and Resorts currently manages seven hotels and resorts in Bali, Jakarta, Laos, Thailand and the Philippines. Many of these properties, including Alila Ubud and Alila Manggis, are well-known for their contributions to environmentally sustainable tourism. Both Alila Ubud and Alila Manggis achieved the Green Globe Certified Status in May 2007 and were conferred the inaugural Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards in November 2006 for their efforts and support towards responsible tourism in Asia.

08 July tourist arrivals figures less than last year

The number of tourist arrivals coming to Maldives has decreased in July this year when compared to the same period last year (July 2007), according to Tourism Ministry’s statistics.

According to the ministry’s statistics 47,675 tourists visited Maldives last June and that that 51,025 tourists visited Maldives in July of 2007. Ministry’s statistics shows a decrease of 3350 in 2008.

Although the number of tourist arrivals declined in July, there was a significant increase in the first seven months of the year. In this regard a total of 403,599 guests visited Maldives by the end of July this year. Some 393,540 tourists visited Maldives by the end of July last year.

According to Tourism ministry’s statistics, in July this year, most number of tourists were from European countries, in second place is Asian countries and in third place Middle East.