Maldives: climate change threatens right to housing, says UN expert

Rising sea levels and coastal erosion, both wrought by climate change, threaten the viability of Maldives, but overcrowding and other impacts are already felt by the island nation’s 300,000 people, a United Nations independent expert cautioned today.

After an eight-day visit to country, Raquel Rolnik, Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, said that “Maldives and its Atolls, because of their unique geological and topographic aspects and their fragile and delicate environmental system, are already experiencing the impacts of climate change.”

This jeopardizes the survival of the nation, which could be inundated by water, but more immediately, it jeopardizes the right to housing due to the scarcity of land.
Ms. Rolnik stressed the responsibility of the international community to urgently support adaptation strategies, noting that “the post-2004 Indian Ocean tsunami reconstruction process in Maldives can be a source of precious lessons.”

Over the past four years, donors and agencies have mobilized over $400 million in aid, but the Rapporteur voiced concern over the allocation of the resources and their management by Maldivian authorities. “In the new resettlement sites that I visited, I detected a lack of participation in the decision-making process concerning relocation, the design of new houses and the infrastructure, which resulted in new structures that were not always compatible with the livelihood of the communities,” she said.

Additionally, the expert noted that the tsunami may have been used by authorities as an opportunity to relocate communities, which has provoked serious conflicts. Today, there are still 3,500 people uprooted by the 2004 disaster who are still living in temporary shelters.
The reconstruction process has also resulted in a surge in the price of construction materials, putting upward pressure on rental prices and aggravating overcrowding.
Over 80,000 migrants from Bangladesh and other South Asian countries live in Maldives, with half of them working in the construction sector, and the Rapporteur said she was concerned over their housing and living conditions.

She called for a “human rights-based approach” to address the housing situation in the country, calling for the Government and international organizations to promote public participation in making key decisions. Ms. Rolnik, who reports to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council, took up her post last May and serves in an independent and unpaid capacity, as do all Special Rapporteurs.

UN News Centre

BANYAN TREE MALDIVES MARINE LAB LOOKS AHEAD AFTER FIVE YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL WORK

Banyan Tree’s in-house Marine Lab at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru celebrated its fifth anniversary in January, making it the longest running resort-based marine research facility in the Maldives.
In the past five years, the Marine Lab has been involved in major projects such as tsunami recovery efforts, working with endangered and threatened marine species, planting coral gardens, mentoring at-risk children, and sharing sustainable livelihood methods with local communities.

The successes of the Banyan Tree Maldives Marine Lab have shown that private resorts can enable stewardship and understanding of their own reefs, as well as that of the whole Maldives archipelago, protecting against phenomena such as beach erosion and coral bleaching due to climate change.

Origins of the Banyan Tree Maldives Marine LabIn January 2004, Banyan Tree established a dedicated marine research facility to spearhead its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in the Maldives. The goal of the Banyan Tree Maldives Marine Lab is to increase awareness of coral reefs and their inhabitants throughout the Maldives, and to actively protect and regenerate Maldivian reefs. The Marine Lab has a full-time marine biologist, a lab manager and dedicated marine environment officers, who are from local communities and trained in coral reef conservation.

Since its inception, the Marine Lab has been led by Mr Abdul Azeez Abdul Hakeem, Banyan Tree’s Area CSR Director – Indian Ocean. Mr Azeez has successfully helped with many reef conservation and restoration measures for Banyan Tree in an attempt to recover and protect coral reefs that were severely damaged during a 1998 El Niño mass coral bleaching event. The Marine Lab was conceived and created to lend further support to such conservation efforts. Reef restoration efforts have had a major impact on reef recovery and health, particularly the monthly reef cleanings which over the last six years have removed trash and coral predators like crown-of-thorns starfish and pincushion starfish. As of 2009, the resort reefs surrounding Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru in the North Malé Atoll have reached a 45% overall coral cover in the recovery after the 1998 El Niño bleaching, a rate that is two to five times higher than other surveyed reefs in the central and northern Maldives.

The role of such private marine research facilities on coral reef conservation should not be underestimated: Resorts in the Maldives act as de facto marine protected areas, empowered by the Maldivian government to be as proactive as desired while adhering to environmental guidelines. There is no university in the Maldives, and as such, the Banyan Tree Maldives Marine Lab takes on a hosting role to accommodate visiting scientists who contribute to scientific understanding of marine studies in the country. Through its efforts, the Marine Lab hosted the first group that filmed coral spawning in the Maldives in 2003.

Educational WorkOn a regular basis, the Marine Lab offers short- and long-term educational internships to local school children and interested higher education students. These internships provide students with an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the marine environment, ecology and conservation. The aim of this programme is to educate and inspire the younger generation to be proactively involved in marine conservation.

Furthermore, at least six times a year, the Marine Lab welcomes groups of local students to the lab to learn about coral, shark and turtle research projects, to take part in hands-on conservation activities, and to enjoy marine conservation presentations and lessons conducted by the expert staff of the Lab.

The Marine Lab team also works closely with resort guests to enhance everyone’s experience of the surrounding reef, through complimentary marine biology classes, stingray and turtle feeding sessions, and guided snorkelling trips.

The MaldivesThe Maldives is an Indian Ocean country of nearly 1,200 low-lying coral islands in 24 atolls. There are about 200 local inhabited islands and 100 private resort islands in the. As the lowest lying country in the world, the Maldives has the most to lose from global climate change and rising water levels.

The Maldives relies on reefs for fishing, tourism, island formation, as well as natural barriers to waves and beach erosion. However, changing weather and reef degradation have increased beach erosion in the last 15 years.

In developing countries with limited technical environmental expertise or poor infrastructures, private conservation and research programs can act as forces of change on par with non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, and governments.
Businesses are in the position to facilitate and create change through their product offerings and purchasing power. As a hotel and resort operator, Banyan Tree is additionally well placed to facilitate sustainable change. Between the number of guests arrivals at the resorts every year, as well as the number of properties that are in developing areas, Banyan Tree has the opportunity and responsibility to share what has been learnt with guests while also partnering with communities to share as much of the benefit of tourism as possible.

Green Imperative Fund

In the spirit of its philosophy, Banyan Tree Holdings Limited set up the Green Imperative Fund (GIF) in 2001 to formalise its corporate social responsibility efforts. Established in all Banyan Tree and Angsana properties, the fund aims to widen the reach and effectiveness of the company’s efforts to provide critical support to worthy environmental action and community based projects where the Group has a presence. Every guest is invited to be a partner through a small preset contribution per room night, under an “opt-out” arrangement. Contributions are matched, dollar for dollar. The Banyan Tree Maldives Marine Lab is privately funded by Banyan Tree through the funds raised by the GIF.

In 2007, a second Banyan Tree Maldives Marine Lab was established on the island of Velavaru in South Nilandhe Atoll, Maldives. The Marine Lab on Velavaru focuses on protecting surrounding reefs and sea turtles, a keystone species particularly vulnerable to a wide range of destructive human activities. Angsana Velavaru is a known turtle-nesting site, home to two endangered species – the Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles. Further information on Marine Lab initiatives can be found here. For more information, please visit the Banyan Tree Corporate Social Responsibility website at banyantree.com/csr.

About Banyan Tree

VabbinfaruLaunched in 1995, Vabbinfaru in Divehi means “round island circled by a round coral reef”. This paradise island of North Malé Atoll is just 20 minutes by speedboat from the airport. It is on this island of white coral sand, surrounded by what must be the bluest water in the world, that sit 48 captivating villas cooled by the natural sea breeze of the Indian Ocean. The resort’s house reef is ideal for snorkelling straight off the beach; while stingrays are fed along the beach every day at 5pm.

For hotel reservations, please contact Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru at +960 664 3147, or Banyan Tree Main Reservations at +65 6849 5800. One–stop reservations at the best rates can be made on the award-winning website, banyantree.com.

A spot of underwater gardening

Imagine planting an underwater garden: in Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, they have just done that. Spotted all over their lagoon, are coral gardens of various ages, ranging from four months to five years. Each teems with rainbow-coloured fish.

As well as being aesthetically pleasing, the gardens give a much-needed boost to coral growth and aid the recovery of the house reef, essential since 1998, when El Nino killed 70-90 per cent of the coral in central Maldives. Banyan Tree was particularly hard hit with 98 per cent of its coral bleached.

The geographical nature of the Maldives means that reefs will forever play a crucial role both in its existence – reefs are responsible for island formation and act as a natural barrier against beach erosion – but also in two of its major industries, fishing and tourism.

Planting corals

The project is headed by director of conservation Abdul Azeez, who describes underwater gardening as his “passion”.

“There is an art to planting coral gardens,” says Azeez. “Planting corals of the same species in close proximity ensures they are more likely to benefit from successful fertilisation during coral spawning.” The shape and direction of each coral species has to be visualised when deciding which to plant next to the other, he adds.

The gardens are created by mimicking a natural process in which coral fragments, carried by ocean currents, eventually settle and reproduce. Here too, the employees at the resort’s marine laboratory collect broken pieces of coral and using cement, glue them onto concrete slabs and large plastic containers.

The result is breathtaking and according to marine biologist, Robert Tomafetti, once the coral envelops the plastic, it prevents toxins from leeching into the surrounding water.

Seeing each of the gardens at their different stages allows visitors to fully observe and appreciate the process. While young gardens are full of rubble, there is not even the slightest hint of concrete in the five-year-old garden.

More surprisingly, says Tomafetti, little coral gardens have begun to spring up in the area around the gardens.

A helping hand

The near-extinction of Tritons, a predatory marine gastropod, has led to two sea creatures – the crown-of-thorns starfish and the pincushion sea star – flourishing. These two, themselves predators, inhibit coral growth.

To compensate for the decline in the numbers of Tritons, the marine lab gives corals a helping hand. “Once a month,” says Azeez, “a team consisting of two staff from each department, dives down to remove these marine predators.”

In order to encourage coral growth, Banyan Tree has come up with the largest and indisputably, the most innovative flower in the Maldives. Located three metres beneath the sea on its house reef, is the Lotus project. From afar the construction looks like a shipwreck, but up close, you see a giant flower, swarming with coral and hundreds of fish.

The structure is huge, measuring 12m in width and weighing 2,000kg and was built and sunk with the help of 40 volunteers, under the supervision of Azeez and its inventors Dr Tom Goreau and Dr Wolf Hibbertz from the Global Coral Reef Alliance.

200 metres of cable provide the Lotus with a low voltage current. Broken corals have been wedged between its bars or attached to its frame with plastic cables. The concept behind the project is to test whether electricity encourages coral growth and helps to maintain healthy corals.

The birth of an electrical reef is ingenious. Although still at an experimental stage, the Lotus has so far proved successful.

Lifeblood

The Banyan Tree is one of the few resorts in the Maldives that employs resident marine biologists for long-term conservation and research. A collective cry of alarm was raised after the coral bleaching of El Nino, but for some it was more out of concern for the decrease in tourist numbers than for the coral itself.

But Azeez believes it should be mandatory for each resort to have an environmental officer to ensure best practice. Beach erosion, he adds, is caused not just by global warming but the destruction of the reef. “Reef degradation after El Nino has increased beach erosion as the reefs act as a barrier to the sand being pulled out to sea.”

As a country both surrounded and formed by reef, Robert says it is imperative to find a balance between development and reef protection, “It’s only because of the coral reefs,” he says, “that the Maldives is here.”

Minivan

President meets Italian Tourism Minister

President Mohamed Nasheed on Thursday met with the Mayor of Milan Dr Letizia Morrati and Italian Tourism Minister Maria Brambilla.

During the meeting held between the Mayor of Milan and President Nasheed discussions were held on the close bilateral relations that exist between the two countries and on ways of further improving the relations in other areas, especially in the field of education.

President Nasheed on Thursday also participated in the inauguration ceremony of BIT 2009 Fair in Milan. After the ceremony he visited the Maldives stand at the Fair. He also met with the investors who participate in the Fair and briefed them on the investment opportunities in the Maldives.

The President later met with the Italian Minister of Tourism Maria Brambilla. During the meeting the President noted that Italy plays a significant role in the Maldives’ tourism industry. President Nasheed and Italian Tourism Minister Brambilla also discussed about establishing a Joint Working Bureau on Tourism between the Maldives and Italy.

President Nasheed also held a press conference with Italian media on “Promoting Maldives through Democracy”.

Miadhu.com.mv

Mandarin Oriental announces an exclusive hideaway resort in The Maldives

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group announced that it has signed a management agreement for an exclusive luxury resort currently under development on a pristine, private island in The Maldives. This exceptional retreat is scheduled to open in the next 12 months.

Mandarin Oriental, Maldives is located 185 kilometres north of the capital city Male, a journey of 45 minutes by seaplane. The luxurious hideaway is being developed on its own exclusive island, Maavelavaru in the Noonu Atoll, encircled by five kilometres of uninterrupted white sand beaches and the turquoise blue lagoons and colourful reefs for which the region is renowned.
Offering the ultimate luxury of space and privacy, the resort comprises 114 spacious, stand-alone villas, including 20 water villas and four Presidential villas, ranging in size from 300 to 1,750 square metres. Each secluded villa is surrounded by generous landscaping, providing total privacy, while opening onto a private pool and the lush vegetation of a serene garden with sweeping ocean vistas. All are designed with exquisite and pampering interiors, with indoor and outdoor bathing options, using a combination of Maldivian architecture and internationally-sourced materials. The largest of the villas have private spa facilities, and the water villas extend over a lively coral reef affording stunning sunrise and sunset views. Mandarin Oriental’s seamless technology and superior entertainment systems, for which the Group is renowned, are employed throughout.

Alfresco and underwater dining with an eclectic selection of local and international cuisines will be available at seven restaurants and bars, including an all day poolside café and bar, a beachfront signature restaurant, an alfresco Maldivian grill, a comfortable lounge and a dramatic underwater wine cellar with private dining room. An authentic Lebanese restaurant and bar, as well as a Japanese restaurant will be built over the ocean. Meeting facilities include a spacious multi purpose function room, a business centre and a well-stocked library.

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Maldives will be a destination in itself, focusing on the well-being of its guests by offering total rejuvenation and relaxation in a serene, meditative setting. A spacious spa which is situated within 13,000 sq metres of tropical gardens, will feature 14 expansive treatment villas and six treatment suites, situated around a lavish outdoor Jacuzzi. Each villa consists of four separate pavilions dedicated to Mandarin Oriental’s welcome rituals, signature treatments, water and heat therapies and relaxation areas, allowing guests to be guided through an intimate and personalised spa journey.

There are endless leisure pursuits for those who tire of the transparent waters and remote beauty of the island, including a fully equipped fitness centre, a badminton court, tennis courts, squash courts, a soccer field and a beautifully appointed outdoor lap pool. In addition, there is a comprehensive water sports centre with a full service diving school, catering for guests who wish to explore the abundant coral reefs that fringe the island. For added peace of mind, the resort also has a fully equipped decompression chamber and emergency medical clinic available on site.
The project is being developed by Athama Investments Pvt. Ltd., a private Maldivian company with extensive and intimate knowledge of the destination.

“Mandarin Oriental, Maldives will be a unique and extraordinarily private hideaway retreat that offers our guests tranquillity and seclusion in a stunning, natural setting. We look forward to bringing Mandarin Oriental’s renowned levels of service to this important leisure destination,” said Edouard Ettedgui, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

“We are delighted to be working with Mandarin Oriental on creating the most exclusive resort in The Maldives,” said Ibrahim Abdul Latheef, Managing Director of Athama Investments Pvt. Ltd. “On opening, this luxurious retreat will embody Mandarin Oriental’s legendary service philosophy and the unique sense of place inherent to all its hotels,” he added

etravelblackboardasia.com

Maldives paradise hit by global slowdown

The Maldives are best known as an upmarket tourist destination, where well-heeled visitors pay thousands of pounds a night to watch the sun sink into the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean.

But even in paradise, fears of a global slowdown are forcing drastic action. Such is the concern about declining income from tourism, the government has opted to sell off some of the most potent symbols of state. First to go is the presidential yacht, which will be auctioned - probably on eBay - with a reserve price of $7.5m (£5m).

Then there's the presidential "picnic island", a two-acre retreat for the Maldivian elite with private beaches, badminton courts, a gym and a cricket pitch. Now the island will be turned into a conference centre.

Tourism, which makes up more than a third of the islands' economy, has made the country by far the richest in South Asia, with a GDP per head in excess of $2,000. But with visitor numbers down by 5% in January, ministers say the fledging democracy needs to cut costs now.

Before the first democratic elections were held last October the tropical idyll was a virtual dictatorship. President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who stepped down after 30 years in power, was accused of running the 1,200-long island chain as a personal playground and of siphoning off profits from tourism.

The former ruler had just completed a cavernous presidential palace before he was thrown out of office. Built at a cost of $45m and with daily running costs of $30,000, the palace will be converted into government offices for an arts council and the country's first university.

The new president says he will operate from a town house, renovated for $125,000, in the capital and his government has tried to make a virtue of the bleak outlook for the economy, saying that it no longer wants to be associated with the former emblems of autocracy.

Mohamed Nasheed, a former Amnesty prisoner of conscience who became the Maldives' first freely-elected president, says he wants to "cut back on the trappings of power" left over from the previous regime. "In a democratic society, particularly at this time of economic hardship, it isn't appropriate for a president to be cruising around in multi-million dollar yachts and padding about palaces," he said.

The savings, says the new government, will release much-needed funds at a time when it needs to pay for debts run up by the previous regime. The Maldives says it needs help to survive the current economic crisis.

"There is no money in the country. We have to live off the money that is coming in every day. When we took over as the government we inherited a huge debt without a significant reserve," said the vice-president, Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik.

Gayoom's party, the Dhivehi Rayyithunge party (DRP), denied that the former president had been lavish in his spending saying these were important images of office.

Abdulla Mausoom of the DRP said there were "more pressing issues" the government should be concerned about. "Selling a chair that the president used is not a change. They should make certain changes rather than selling off a speedboat or a dinghy. Nasheed has appointed over 68 ministers and state ministers already. If you are talking of a lean government, there are other things you should be doing," he said.

guardian.co.uk

Conrad Maldives to Host Yoga and Nutrition Retreat 10-30 March

The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island will host its second transformational Path to Balance Retreat from 10-30 March, offering guests a comprehensive lifestyle and wellness makeover in a paradise setting.

The Path to Balance Retreat will be held at the resort’s Spa Retreat, a destination spa comprising 21 water villas with private treatment rooms surrounding a central spa, together with gourmet spa restaurant, juice bar and relaxation areas.

During the Retreat, the resort’s international spa specialists Cheryl Davison and Zhenya Gerson will create bespoke programmes combining daily spa treatments with a range of healing techniques and yoga tuition.

Cheryl Davison, the resort’s resident naturopath is a specialist in achieving inner balance and optimal health. Her knowledge of naturopathy, herbal medicine, nutrition, iridology, energy healing and flower essences will be tapped on to develop tailor-made programmes to meet individual needs and targets, from weight-loss to stress relief.

To compliment the programme, resident Yoga specialist Zhenya Gerson will provide morning and evening Yoga sessions to renew body and mind. Zhenya effortlessly blends dynamic free flowing vinyasa "power" yoga style with calming hatha yoga along with relaxing yoga nidra and meditation practices to balance, heal and nurture the spirit within.

Guests can opt for either a three or seven-day programme depending on their goals. The seven-day- Ultimate Transformation package costs US$13,750 per couple and includes:

- Accommodation in Spa Water Villa for 7 Nights on half board + return seaplane transfers
- 1 x Naturopathic Consultation including personally blended herbal medicine
- 1 x Flower Essence Consultation or Reiki ( Energy Healing) Session
- 12 x Yoga Classes
- 1 x Personal Yoga 1:2:1 Session
- 4 x 90 min Massage of choice at Spa Retreat
- 1 x 75 min Facial of choice at Spa Retreat
- 1 x Hair Spa with Style or Cucumber Spa Mani or Cucumber Spa Pedi
- 2 x Private Heat Therapy at the Spa Retreat

The Three days-Perfect Balance package costs US$7250 per couple and costs:

- Accommodation in Spa Water Villa for 3 Nights on half board + return seaplane transfers
- 1 x Naturopathic Consultation including personally blended herbal medicine
- 6 x Yoga Classes
- 2 x 90 min Massage of choice at Spa Retreat
- 1 x 75 min Facial of choice at Spa Retreat
- 1 x Private Heat Therapy at the Spa Retreat

asiatraveltips.com

Baa atoll says no to plastic bags

A campaign aimed at reducing and eventually eradicating the use of plastic bags was launched on Friday in Baa atoll.

The “Say no to plastic bags” campaign, run by Kendhoo Club, an island association on Kendhoo, and Sonevaa Fushi resort, will be distributing cloth bags to each household in the atoll to encourage people to stop using plastic bags.

“We initiated this programme, because we see plastic bags everywhere,” said Ibrahim Abdul Rahman, president of Kendhoo Club. “They’re in the lagoon, on the beach, on the corals, damaging our environment.”

Plastic bags are not biodegradable and take 10 to 20 years to disintegrate. With no proper waste management facility in the islands, plastic bags have been found littered on the beaches and in lagoons; they are known to destroy live coral and adversely affect the marine life in Maldives.

Awareness programmes

The programme is being piloted in Kendhoo and will be introduced to rest of the atoll after a three-month trial period, said Ibrahim.

In addition to holding information sessions, he added, the campaign organisers had requested leaflets from the Environment Research Centre, outlining the detrimental effects of plastic bags.

“On average, shops give away around 50 bags; our target is to reduce this number to five.” According to Ibrahim, businessmen have proved the hardest to convince but the organisers were currently in discussions with them.

“We even plan to give cloth bags to shops and we are asking them to charge for plastic bags to discourage consumers. We have been getting support because shopkeepers are now advising customers to avoid taking plastic bags when they buy small items.”

Ibrahim added locals would support the campaign once they became used the idea as “they do know that plastic bags are bad for environment”.

“Responsibility and passion”

The cloth bags have been donated by Sonevaa Fushi, a resort renowned for its environmental work.

Commenting on their decision to become involved in the campaign, Mussab Aneez, the social and environmental manager at the resort, said, “Doing this is our responsibility and our passion.”

He said the aim was to enlarge the campaign to include the 12 other islands in Baa atoll this year, before covering the whole of the Maldives.

Although he said he did not want to give the information about the campaign’s budget, Aneez said the resort would be covering all costs.

“It’s part of our Corporate Social Responsibility scheme. The initial 200 bags were imported but we are now producing 3,000 bags. As part of our community initiative we are hiring small businesses run by women to make these bags.”

A welcome move

Bluepeace director Ali Rilwan has said he welcomes the move which will encourage a shift in cultural attitudes and make people more environmentally conscious.

But, he added, the scheme needed to be carried out at a national level and comprehensive laws established to address the issue. “There needs to be tax exemption for biodegradable items; even cloth bags are taxed now.”

Further, although plastic bags had higher taxes, said Rilwan, cloth bags were still more expensive so the “deterrent effect” of taxing plastic bags was “negligible”.

“If every resort had corporate social responsibility schemes like Sonevaa Fushi and sponsored an island, it could have a major impact,” he said. “At the start it was plastic bags, but now plastic water bottles are an even bigger issue which also needs to be tackled soon.”

Minivan

Maldives President Nasheed arrives in Italy

Miadhu

President Mohamed Nasheed has arrived in Rome on Tuesday evening.

Later in the evening President Nasheed and members of his delegation attended a dinner hosted by Fiormonte Law Firm.

Speaking to the media, before his departure to Italy on Tuesday, the President had said that the purpose of his visit was to seek European investments to various developmental projects and to facilitate European businesses to operate in the Maldives. In addition, he said a key purpose of this visit was to give extra support to the country’s tourism sector in alleviating a possible negative impact of the global economic crisis on our tourism industry. During his visit, the President is expected to attend the inauguration ceremony of the BIT 2009 and is scheduled to give a press conference, aimed at promoting Maldivian tourism in Europe. He will also give media interviews to some of the prominent stations in Italy.

President Nasheed is accompanied by a high level delegation including key members of his cabinet and some parliamentarians.

Government to safeguard protected areas

The government is taking its first steps to implement a programme to safeguard designated protected areas that represent the nation’s marine and terrestrial biological diversity.

Protected areas are those which are “highly irreplaceable natural areas or areas under high threat or with many threatened species,” according to Zaha Waheed, the project coordinator at the environment research centre

Most of the sites, she said, were initially popular dive sites, which were proposed by the tourism sector to protect them from fishing interests.

Although many of the locations were labelled as protected sites as early as 1995, due to limited financial resources and technical expertise, the sites have been protected on paper only so far, she said. This has led to many referring to protected areas as “paper parks”.

Plan of action

“We need to have a management plan,” said Zaha. “We are saying they’re protected but nothing has been done…international best practices have to be applied…No one is looking at the status of the sites to see if they are degrading or not degrading.”

According to Zaha, the first stage of the programme will involve two pilot projects, one marine and one terrestrial. The marine project will be at Mayaa Thila, one of the most popular dive sites, while the terrestrial project will take place at Ga. Hithadhoo island.

The aim is to develop a management system that can be replicated to oversee all 30 protected areas and the five protected islands across the Maldives.

The initial stages of the programme will be carried out in consultation with all of the stakeholders, said Zaha, including locals, the tourism ministry and the fisheries ministry.

Decentralisation

Ahmed Saleem, permanent secretary of the environment ministry, has said although “a lot of work” on the project has already been carried out “nothing has been seen on the ground”.

Due to a centrally-controlled government and a lack of staff on atolls, monitoring the sites in the past has proved taxing.

“Decentralisation will help a lot,” said Saleem. “It will have a synergistic effect on the work that we are doing…Decentralisation is very timely.”

A lack of adequate resources was another factor which prevented the project from moving forwards.

Although UN funding was secured in 2007 for the programme, Saleem said a system of fee collection at these sites might be implemented in the future.

“That’s how parks are managed anywhere in the world,” he said. “The main source of income will come from users, so ultimately what is generated will then be used to protect the site.”

Paper parks

Saleem has described the programme as “a very positive move”. “Most people would say the parks are paper parks. We don’t want that anymore.”

As party to the Convention of Biological Diversity, the Maldives has a legal obligation to protect both marine and terrestrial biology, he added. “Just giving legal status to a place isn’t going to help it.”

Mohamed Zuhair, director general of the environment ministry, said the significance of the project was “quite simple”.

“Protecting our fragile environment for generations to come and protecting vital biological resources,” was crucial.

President to commence official visit to Italy

President Mohamed Nasheed and first lady Laila Ali is expected to depart to Italy on an official visit sometime today. President Nasheed briefing the media earlier has said the main objectives of his visit to Italy are to seek Italian government’s aid towards the reconstruction of the country and continue the special initiatives of the government to minimize the anticipated decline in Maldives tourism this year by encouraging more Italian holiday makers to visit Maldives.

The President has said that in order to offset the anticipated decline he will be seeking to increase the number of Italian holiday makers by a minimum of 5000.He has said every effort will be made to make this year’s Milan Fair a Maldives fair. Milan Fair to be held from 19 to 20 of this month will include many Maldivian tourism industry sources. The president and accompanying delegation is expected to visit the fair.

Further President Nasheed has highlighted that the number of Italian tourists visiting the country began to decline in 1994 and that by year 2004, Italian holiday makers dropped as much as 20 percent. He said the main reason for such a drastic reduction is due to high lease fees imposed on the tourist islands.

Many are anticipating a reduction in government levies on resort islands opening opportunities for budget holiday makers to visit Maldives.

President Nasheed will be accompanied by Tourism Minister Dr. Ali Sawaad, Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed and Trade Minister Mohamed Rasheed.

Miadhu

Machchafushi Island in the Maldives renamed Centara Grand Island

The little island of Machchafushi in the Maldives, home to the Centara Grand Island Resort and Spa, has been officially renamed the Centara Grand Island. The first flight to the island since the renaming took place on 9 February from the capital Male, and a little piece of history was made as all the Flight Departure Boards at the airport clicked over to reveal the destination of flight 142205 as Centara Grand Island.

Only 200 of the country’s 1192 islands are inhabited so to have an island renamed is an honour and created quite a buzz in the idyllic archipelago. The island is relatively close to Male Airport with an air transfer time of just 25 minutes or transfer by speed boat in 85 minutes. For diving enthusiasts the resort enjoys great diving with an excellent house reef complete with a sunken ship wreck and is within easy reach of the top dive spots in Ari Atoll. With 112 Suites and Villas, Centara Grand Island Resort and Spa, delivers a unique Premium 4 star resort experience and is ideal for both couples and the family market, combining Barefoot Luxury with an active and varied social program for both adults and children alike.

Adults enjoy premium levels of service with a variety of dining options, pools, recreational activities, Sports and Fitness options, bars and lounges with nightly entertainment, and Centara Hotels & Resorts very own 5 stars Spa experience - Spa Cenvaree, whilst children benefit from the Centara Hotels & Resorts Kids Club concept offering 2 venues – Kid Camp and E-zone for ages 4 to 9 and 10 to 17 respectively. The resort boasts 7 categories of beach front and over water accommodation from 76 sqm Beach Suites complete with separate living room, large terrace and indoor and outdoor showers, to 146 sqm Luxury Beachfront Pool Villas complete with their own private pool and membership of the exclusive Island Club – which offers guests in selected categories of accommodation a “resort within a resort” experience.

Based around the small pool, Island Club guests enjoy premium levels of attention and service, access to the exclusive Club Lounge with daily servings of complimentary meals, snacks and drinks including complimentary evening cocktails and canapés and use of the private pool which features refreshing Spa Cenvaree mist sprays, complimentary mineral water, pre lunch cold towel service, afternoon fruits and sun bed concierge service. A completely newly built project entailing an investment of US$49 million, it is the first such project for Centara Hotels & Resorts outside of Thailand.

ASIATravelTips.com

Spence books tidy capital profit selling Maldivian resort

Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings has sold its first island resort in the Maldives set up in 1993 booking a fat capital profit in the quarter ended December 31, 2008. "The resort island did not belong to us and the operating rights (on the property) had three more years to run," Mr. Rajan Brito, Chairman/MD of the Aitken Spence group explained.

"We got a good offer for it and we decided to accept it as we would not have made that kind of profit had we run it on our own for three years." Brito said that a profit of Rs.218 million was booked on the transaction. As Aitken Spence owns 75% of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings, Rs.163 million of this profit accrued to Aitken Spence. The Bathala resort was 95% owned by the Aitken Spence group with the balance 5% belonging to a Maldivian partner. Brito also said that a new Maldivian resort, Vadoo was due for completion at the end of March and will be commissioned in the forthcoming financial year.

He said that the development of the new resort was funded by borrowings and internally generated funds. The group borrows abroad at the London Inter Bank Offered Rate plus 3% which was now going up slightly, Brito said. "We haven’t gone to our shareholders for funds for the last several years," he said. Aitken Spence was an early entrant to the Maldivian tourism industry and operates several profitable resorts in the archipelago with earnings there taking up the lag of depressed tourism earnings in Sri Lanka. Spence has also gone into hotel management in India and the Middle East. The December quarter saw the Aitken Spence group profit growing 38.4% to Rs.473 million. The nine months ended December 31, 2008 saw the group boosting revenue 21.4% to Rs.19.35 billion and the attributable profit by 15.1% to Rs.1.27 billion.

With minority interest, the group’s after-tax profit was up 11.4% to Rs.1.87 billion translating to an earning per share of Rs.46.78, up 15.1% from Rs.40.63 earned a year earlier. Aitken Spence Hotels posted revenue growth of 9% to Rs.3.95 billion in the nine months under review and an attributable profit of Rs.264.6 million, more than double the Rs.131.2 million earned in the comparative period the previous year. The hotel subsidiary had an earning per share of Rs.6.59 during the nine-month period, more than double the Rs.3.12 earned in the comparative period the previous year, which analysts said partly reflected the capital profit earned on the sale of the Bathala resort.

island.lk

Island Holidays to tap Bollywood segment for Maldives

Island Holidays a Mumbai-based consolidator for Maldives now plans to tap the Bollywood segment by facilitating movie producers with shooting locations in the island nation and also arrange their travel plans. Elaborating on the plans for promoting Maldives through Bollywood, Aman Bhatia, Partner, Island Holidays said, “We recently facilitated the shooting of Kites, a movie by Rakesh Roshan in Maldives.

We in talks with Maldives Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) to promote movie shoots and advertisements at different locations in Maldives through Island Holidays and we are expecting it to materialise within a month or so.” From the 1900 islands that form Maldives, there are certain islands where there is no habitation and are used for picnics by locals. Island Holidays will be promoting these islands and also the local villages for shooting, though to access these islands one needs government’s permission.

To tap the Bollywood segment, the company will promote their offerings through their network of Bollywood producers. “Our offerings will also be promoted through actor Kumar Gaurav who is a part of the company,” stated Bhatia. It will also organise familiarisation trips for produces to get a feel of the destination. Apart from promoting the destination through Bollywood, Island Holidays will also promote the honeymoon and leisure segment for Maldives along with other destinations like Sarawak in Malaysia, Turkey, Tanzania and Fiji.

travelbizmonitor.com

Sri Lankan hotel groups face Maldivian downturn

lankabusinessonline.com

Two of Sri Lanka's top conglomerates with resorts in the Maldives could see their earnings affected by a sudden downturn in tourist arrivals to the archipelago, a brokerage said in a research report.

C T Smith Stockbrokers said the Aitken Spence and John Keells groups could be hit as the global economic crisis has begun to reduce visitors to the Maldives as it impacts key Western tourist traffic generating markets It noted that there has been a sharp downturn in arrivals from the most important markets like Italy and Britain. "The effects of the global recession are seen making its impact on long-haul tourism to the Maldives, with arrivals dropping 4.8 percent to 61,531 in January 2009 from a year ago," C T Smith Stockbrokers said.
"Following the dip in arrivals in December 2008 this does not bode well for the industry as this is traditionally the peak season."

December arrivals in the Maldives were down four percent to 62,478 persons from a year ago.
The brokers said they expect tourist traffic to the Maldives to fall this year.
Tourist arrivals to the Maldives increased only 1.1 percent to 683,012 persons in 2008 from the year before. "Given the slowdown in arrivals witnessed in the second half of 2008, along with signs that the global recession is far from over and considering its likely impact on long haul tourism, we estimate Maldives’ tourist arrivals to fall by around 2-3 percent in 2009," the report said.

"Companies likely to get adversely affected by these developments would be Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings and John Keells Hotels, as both companies have significant hotel portfolios in the Maldives." The two groups diversified into the Maldives as part of a strategy to reduce their dependence on earnings from their Sri Lankan hotels. C T Smith Stockbrokers said the sharpest fall in visitors to the Maldives in January 2009 was from the European markets which dropped 9.6 percent to 47,283 persons compared with the year before.
Arrivals from the main markets such as Italy and UK dropped 22.5 percent to 10,441 persons and 19.6 percent to 7,751.

"Italy, UK and France combined represent nearly 40 percent of Maldives’ tourist arrivals, and as the current global recession is expected to carry on well into late 2009, it translates into a likely poor performance from these markets for the year." The report however said that on a more positive note, Asian arrivals had risen 20.3 percent from a year ago, with a 130 percent increase seen in Chinese arrivals to 5,912 persons. Both Aitken Spence and John Keells are looking at further diversifying their hotel business by investing in India and elsewhere in south Asia as well as in the Middle East. Sri Lanka's tourism industry has suffered for years from stagnant or falling arrivals because of the bad publicity generated by the ethnic war.
Low occupancy levels have meant that Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings and John Keells Hotels have seen their properties suffer losses from time to time. Now, however, industry analysts said Sri Lanka's tourism prospects have brightened with the military on the verge of crushing the Tamil Tiger separatist rebellion.

Constance Halaveli will open in May 2009 - a new luxury resort in the Maldives.

koreaherald.co.kr

Constance Hotels will open a new resort in the Maldives in May. The "Halaveli Resort" will pre-open at the end of May and officially start operation from June 15. The five-star resort is on the North Ari atoll and is 20 minutes away from the country's main airport. The resort comprises 86 villas, three restaurants and a spa, along with various recreation programs.

The villas come in four different types, including water villa with private plunge pool and sun deck, beach villa with private plunge pool and garden, double-story beach villa and presidential beach villa. All villas feature WiFi, DV, Mac mini, LCD television, and iPod connection, along with a mini bar, and mini wine cellar. There will be two boutiques on the island for jewelry and luxury clothing, along with an exclusive arrival and departure lounge for the visitors.

Free sports activities include gymnasium, tennis, windsurfing and kayaks. Constance Hotels, based in Mauritius, runs luxury hotels and resorts in Mauritius and a resort on Praslin island in the Seychelles. For more information, visit www.halaveli.com or contact Chun Do Travel Co. at www.chundo.co.kr

Sri Lanka Spence profits boosted by Maldives resort sale

lankabusinessonline.com

Sri Lanka's Aitken Spence group said December 2008 quarter profits grew 38.4 percent to 473 million rupees, helped by a 163 million gain from the sale of a Maldivian resort.

Without the sale, consolidated profits fell to 310.6 million rupees from 342.3 million rupees. Before minority interest the sale brought profits of 218 million rupees.

Spence sold out of Bathala Island Resort, which it acquired in 1993, making it the first Sri Lankan run resort in the Maldives.

An official said the firm got a good price and the sale was concluded shortly before its lease expired. Aitken Spence runs seven resorts in the atolls. It also manages hotels in India and the Middle East.

Revenues of the group, which has operations in shipping, power, plantations and leisure increased 26.8 percent to 8.7 billion rupees.

The group said its Sri Lankan tourism business was hit by falling arrivals due to travel advisories, while in the Maldives high energy costs and refurbishment and new investment increased the interest burden.

In recent months, tourist traffic to Maldives has also slackened with the global tourism industry tapering off.

But Aitken Spence said its port management services, especially in South Africa as well as its power projects had done well.

"In power generation we are expecting future growth in renewable energy and in overseas expansion opportunities," Aitken Spence managing director J M S Brito said in a statement.

Aitken Spence plantations were also hit by falling global commodity prices. Sri Lanka tea and rubber prices have fallen steeply in the last quarter, though tea prices have since recovered somewhat.

In the 9-months to December 2008, revenues grew 21.4 percent to 23.4 billion rupees while group net profits grew 15.1 percent to 1,266 million rupees.

Without the resort sale net profits were flat at 1,103 million rupees against 1,099 million rupees.

Soneva takes the Gold in Condé Nast Lists

etravelblackboard.com

Perhaps the greatest compliment is to have your guest’s choose your resort as their favorite, as was the case in The Condé Nast Gold Lists 2009, in both the United States and United Kingdom editions of Condé Nast Traveller. In the US edition, over 32,000 readers voted. The result, wrote Condé Nast Traveler, is a compendium of properties as reliable as bullion itself.

Scoring the Maldives top position with an overall 94.8%, Soneva Fushi by Six Senses, achieved a perfect score for its location: blindingly white sand, turquoise sea and beautiful palm trees,“the service is second to none”. “You won’t wear shoes once during your stay” Dense vegetation separates villas, where the furniture is built from renewable or sustainable sources, and bathrooms open to private gardens.

And the Maldives second highest score went to sister property, Soneva Gili, with 93.6%. Soneva’s philosophy of what it calls intelligent luxury translates into “a smart staff: The people serving you breakfast speak five to seven languages”. Bright villas in this overwater resort have rooftop sundecks and are decorated in shades of red, yellow and white. A new gym and Japanese restaurant recently opened.

Meanwhile, readers of the UK edition of Condé Nast Traveller awarded Soneva Gili a 97.4% score in the Best Rooms category. Environmentally friendly principals are combined with carefully conceived design at the 45-villa resort. Constructed using sustainable materials and natural fabrics, villas have rooftop and overwater sundecks and open air bathrooms. Facilities include a Six Senses Spa, swimming pool, tennis, diving, sailing, group yoga classes and a gourmet restaurant. The publication continued the report, with what they call the X-factor: The accommodation ranges from the sweet-and-chic villa suites to the incredible Private Reserve which has three bedrooms, a private spa, a waterslide, resident butlers and two tiny boats to take you to the main island.

Maldives tourist arrivals fall five per cent

Minivan

Tourist arrivals fell five percent last month compared to January of the previous year, reports Haveeru.

According to statistics from the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), 64,621 tourists visited Maldives in January 2008, while 61,531 arrivals were recorded this January – a decrease of 3,090 guests.

MATI secretary-general "Sim" Ibrahim Mohamed said the drop in tourist arrivals gave cause for concern.

He predicted a further decrease from late March to April. He added if the decline continued some resorts might be forced to close.

Success of tourism in southern atolls linked to Gan Airport - Sawaad

Miadhu

The success of tourism in Addu and Huvadhoo atolls directly depends on the successful completion of Addu atoll Gan International Airport as a full fledged international airport, Tourism Minister Dr. Ahmed Ali Sawaad has said.

Responding to Miadhu Daily’s question whether tourism in southern atolls of the Maldives can succeed given the present condition of Gan International Airport, minister Sawaad said when the tourism in Addu and Huvadhoo atolls expands, it is important to have Gan Airport as a hub which can provide all necessary services. He said the development of Gan Airport is vital to the development of tourism in the southern atolls. One of the best luxury resorts to be opened in Maldives, the Shangri-La Vilingili and Spar is expected to be opened sometime this year and so will many other resorts in Huvadhoo atoll but the success of the these resorts is linked to the full and complete development of Gan Airport.

“Tourism is expanding in Addu and Huvadhoo atolls, tourism in southern atolls is expected to widen and expand considerably in the near future, we need to upgrade the standards and services being provided in Gan Airport to cater for the projected expansions, failure to act on it may compromise the success of tourism in these parts, in order for tourism to succeed in southern atolls, the services and facilities at Gan airport need to be improved and upgraded, we are currently in the process of having discussions with concerned government authority on the matter, this is a project we must succeed in order to have a successful tourism in the south” minister said.

In addition, the minister revealed efforts are being to develop the region as a seaplane hub and that easy and convenient transport was necessary for development of tourism.

What makes a perfect holiday?

telegraph.co.uk
Airport nightmares, horrible hotels, crowded beaches, family arguments, soaring costs – holidays are not always the away-from-it-all bliss we hope for. And yet most of us cling to the belief that one day we really will have that "holiday of a lifetime".

But what makes a truly memorable holiday? The age at which you take it may have something to do with it, according to travel operator Kuoni. When it recently asked 1,000 British holidaymakers about their favourite trips, it discovered that more people have their best-ever holiday at 34 than at any other age. As Martin Conway, an expert on memory from the University of Leeds, points out, "Thirty-four is when a lot of people are thinking about 'nesting' so they are either likely to be enjoying those last holidays without children or perhaps taking their young children on a first holiday abroad."

On the other hand, the survey also notes that a third of respondents over 65 had their most memorable holiday in their retirement.

The truth is that a great holiday has nothing to do with age, or even cost, but everything to do with where you go and who you go with. Here, a cross-section of those who responded to the Kuoni survey tell us about the best holidays they have ever had. And, in case their memories inspire you, we have added details of how you can make a similar trip – whether you're 25, 55 or 75.

The Maldives

"It was our last big holiday before my wife and I started trying for kids so we pushed the boat out and went for a one-week holiday at Huvafen Fushi. We decided to go to the Maldives primarily for the diving, which was an amazing experience."
Henry Grafton-Grattan

"We went to the Reethi Beach Resort for our honeymoon. After a hectic six months preparing for our wedding and then the excitement of the day itself, Reethi Beach was the perfect desert island for recharging our batteries."
Tony Mays

Read more....

Luxury hotel to be built on Kudafari, Maldives

Miadhu

Construction of a luxury hotel in N. Kudafari will begin this year and that objective of building a luxury hotel in the island is to increase the income of the island’s people, President Mohamed Nasheed has announced.

President Nasheed made the announcement while speaking to the people of Kudafari yesterday afternoon. The President visited Noonu atoll as part of his current tour of the atoll.

He also expressed government support and assistance for the development projects of the island initiated by the island’s community.

The President said he will provide assistance towards developing Kudafari School as well as assistance to solve the harbor difficulties faced by the people.

President Nasheed during his visits to the atoll provides assistance to solve the pressing issues faced by the islanders. In this regard, President recently pledged a fishing vessel to the people of Gaadhihfushi of Thaa atoll.

Fergie and Josh Duhamel enjoy honeymoon in Maldives

nowmagazine.co.uk

Newlyweds loved up on their paradise trip.

Newlywed Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie has been relaxing on her Maldives honeymoon, canoeing and pottering about with husband Josh Duhamel. Fergie, 33, and actor Josh, 36, tied the knot in Malibu on 10 January before jetting off to their secluded £10,000-a week suite at the One And Only Reethi Rah hotel.

A fan who chatted to Fergie at Los Angeles airport said: ‘She told me the wedding was amazing.’

On arriving at the hotel the singer headed straight to the spa for a massage, no doubt tired after the long flight and one-hour boat transfer to the island. Josh and Fergie shunned the hotel restaurant in favour of a private barbecue served by their own butler at their villa. Fergie nibbled at grilled crayfish, before succumbing to a late-night attack of the munchies and ordering pasta from room service at 2am.

She was feeling more energetic the next day, grabbing a paddle as the couple took a canoe out
on the water. Josh seemed happy to let her take the strain while he merrily took snaps for the family album.

The two had been dating for four years before getting hitched, having met when The Black Eyed Peas appeared in an episode of Josh’s hit TV show Las Vegas. The romantic LA wedding had an all-white theme with Fergie – real name Stacy Ann Ferguson – and Josh exchanging vows under magnolia trees. There was tight security, with guests receiving details of the venue at the last minute.

Fergie’s mother Terri Jackson let slip some of the details, however. ‘Kid Rock was there, with Will.i.am rapping,’ she said. ‘It was an amazing show. It would cost you a fortune to see a show like that.Quick - grab your copy of Now magazine dated 2 February 2009 to see the photos of Fergie and Josh Duhamel on honeymooon - out now!

Sri Lanka Galle Face group to build resort on Maldive island

lankabusinessonline.com

Sri Lanka's Galle Face Hotels Group plans to build a 100-room luxury resort hotel on an atoll in the Maldivian archipelago, a senior official said.

Lakshman Sirimanne, group director, corporate development of the Galle Face Hotel group, said construction work on the resort on Gaafu Atoll, south of the capital Male, is about to begin.

"We have obtained all necessary approvals and completed the surveys of the island," he said.

"We're now in the process of fencing the land and building the quarters required for construction workers."

He said it was not possible to immediately reveal the group's investment in the project.

The Galle Face Hotel group is also putting in place the necessary ancillaries such as desalination units and sewerage units, as well as backfilling the island and dredging for a small jetty.

The company hopes to complete construction of the 200-bed resort by end-December 2009 and get into operation early next year, Sirimanne said.

A new subsidiary company of the Galle Face Hotel group has been incorporated in the Maldive islands.

The new hotel is sited on an uninhabited island which also has a domestic airport.and airport buildings.

The new Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed, during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, announced that the Galle Face Hotel group was embarking on the project and also made a request for the airport to be modernized.

The Galle Face group started on the project after winning the bid for the island when it was put up for bids by the Maldivian government, which is focusing on developing the Gaafu Atoll.

Gaafu Atoll (also named Huvadhoo Atoll) is touted by surfers as having some of the best waves in the Maldives. It is also known to be good for scuba diving, snorkeling and sailing.

It is among the outer atolls of the Maldives and promoted as a surfing attraction without crowds as they are further away and harder to get to than the North and South Male Atolls

Nasandhura premises to be converted to parking space

Miadhu

President Mohamed Nasheed has said the government plans to demolish the hotel wing of Nasandhura Palace Hotel rather than tearing down the building entirely. The Trends restaurant area is to be left intact so as to make the place available for immediate use.

Speaking at a press conference held at the President’s Office, Nasheed said the government decided on the current course of action because he believed it was important to reconsider the fate of the hotel, for while Nasandhura is considered a liability by the government, there are parties that believe otherwise.

He also said the government will provide parking spaces in the area to boost domestic business, as the lack of adequate roads and parking facilities impede commerce.

The area is considered to be a dangerous location for large construction projects as the biggest cracks in the coral base of Malé were found close to the region. The area also suffers from congestion, due to the main traffic artery being made a one-way road and parking spaces are scarce. Parking problems in the area are expected to be remedied significantly upon completion of the project.

The Hulhumalé ferry-terminal region is one of the most congested areas in Malé and a large number of vehicles are impounded routinely by the traffic police in order to ensure a steady flow of traffic.

Even though such problems need to be addressed quickly, some economical minds believe it is not the right time to demolish Nasandhura.

Galle Face Hotels Group to develop resort in Maldives

Miadhu

Sri Lanka’s Galle Face Hotels Group, key partner of Sri Lankan Tourism Industry, has expressed interests to develop a tourist resort in Maldives, according to Lakshaman Sirimanne, group director, corporate development of Galle Face Hotel group.

Sirimanne revealed that all necessary approvals has been obtained and all surveys completed and that the currently work on fencing the land and building quarters for the workers are underway.

Sirimanne also revealed that the 200 bed resort developed by the Galle Face Hotels Group would be completed by December 2009 and would be operational early 2010.

During the his recent official visit to Sri Lanka in January this year, President Nasheed also given encouragement to Galle Face Hotels Group to continue with the development and has announced plans to upgrade the airport in the island.

Many of the islands of Huvadhoo atoll are spectacular, noted for its underwater beauty and its suitability for surfing. Many tourists even today visit the region by air to enjoy the spectacular waves.

Although Sirimanne did not name island the resort is being developed, he did confirm the island is being developed in Huvadhoo atoll. He also has said the island already has a domestic airport and associated infrastructure. As such the only island that fits the description in Huvadhoo atoll is Kaadedoo.

Maldives President to visit Italy to attract more tourists

Miadhu

President Mohamed Nasheed has announced that he will be visiting Italy on the 14 th of this month and that the visit is aimed at increasing the number of Italians tourists arriving Maldives. President said the target is to bring in an additional 5000 Italian tourists this year. President Nasheed made the announcement speaking at a press conference held at the President’s Office on Monday.

Speaking at the press conference President said world tourism industry has slowed down and that he believed Maldives tourism will be exceptionally slow during June and July this year. He said he will be working to bring in more Italians during this period to offset the losses.
He noted that tourists initially came to Maldives from clubs and that most Italians came from clubs like Vacanze and Valtur. He said clubs like these used to sell Maldives at attractive prices and that prices went up as a direct of the increase in the lease rent of the resort islands. He further said such high prices have caused difficulties for clubs to bring in regular tourists to Maldives.

President said during the period when Maldives were marketed at low prices, number of Italians tourists was considerable and that it declined by some 20 percent when the government increased rental charges of the resorts. The losses incurred by the tourism industry as a result of the decline in number of arrivals far out weighed the additional revenue the government generated by increasing the rental fees of the resorts President said.

He also revealed that all expenses to participate in Milan Fair this year will borne by the Italian government and that discussions on the matter is underway with Italian Ambassador accredited to Maldives and Italian Trade Minister.

Maldives agent is all at sea

ttglive.com

As our seaplane headed from Male to the new Maldivian resort of Iru Fushi, we had no idea the owner was onboard.

It was only when we approached and he casually twirled his finger to tell the pilot to take a slow circle of the island to give us a better look that it started to become clear.

A former travel agent, Ahmed Siyam Mohamed is an elusive character with a burgeoning portfolio of resorts and a disarmingly positive outlook.

Siyam has built up his Sun Hotels & Resorts empire from scratch. In his early 20s he worked in various hotels, as a receptionist, in food and beverage, and store accounts, before setting up his own travel agency in 1990.

Armed with an investment of just $900, he set up Maldives-based Sun Travel by buying a fax machine, a table and a few chairs.

He credits a trip to ITB in 1991 as a major boost for his business, but the real catalyst came in 1992 when the Maldivian government opened up a bidding system for ownership of the islands.

Bidding wars
“We were given the highest marks,” Siyam boasts. “I created the resort concept, and wrote the environment report. We give high consideration to the environment. We don’t cut anything, we build around. That is how the build concept should be.”

Strong green credentials helped him win the bid, and Vilu Reef Beach Resort & Spa was born.

Building didn’t actually start until 1998, but with careful planning behind him, he constructed the resort in one year.

Two further bids were made, and won, between that time and 2006, leading to Olhuveli Beach & Resort Spa and Vilu Reef Beach Resort & Spa.

In 2006, Siyam made a fourth bid – this time for virgin island Iru Fushi.

Again, Siyam cites green credentials playing a big part in the bid’s success: “We recycle waste as fertiliser. Sewage is treated, then used for plant watering. Solar panels heat the swimming pools.”

Global outlook
Although he won the bid, I ask if the timing might be unfortunate, with the global economy and security issues putting pressure on tourism.

“I am happy we deal with the world,” he replies. “Now we are targeting eastern Europe, Russia and the Middle East a lot more.

“The Maldives needs 800,000 tourists a year to have 80% occupancy rate. Our company in particular needs 80,000 tourists a year, which is a 10% market share. Two billion people travel worldwide each year, so 80,000 is not much”.

Despite his love for the Maldives, Siyam has recognised that to grow he must look farther afield, and has bought land in Bali and the Seychelles. But for now, his focus is closer to home, and his message to UK travellers reflects the positivity which is clearly part of his make-up.

“People must not stop holidays,” he says, smiling. “Keep up your way of life.”

Thomson is offering seven nights half-board from £1,149 per person based on two sharing. Includes return flights from Gatwick.

Maldives is competing in the “New 7 Wonders of Nature” Campaign

visitmaldives.com

Male’, 28 January 2009; The Maldives archipelago has been nominated for the New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign. This campaign is a process in which seven natural wonders of the world are chosen by people through a global poll which will be declared in the year 2011.

The campaign is being organized by the Swiss based New7Wonders Foundation after their success in organizing the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. 261 qualified national and multinational nominees are now competing to make it to the top 77.

Please vote for Maldives by visiting www.visitmaldives.com or www.new7wonders.com. Voting continues from January 7th until July 7th 2009 to determine the top 77 in each of the seven competing categories. The New7Wonders Panel of Experts will select the 21 finalists from the top 77 nominees.

We would like to call all Maldivians, fans and well wishers of Maldives to join our effort to make Maldives as one of the Natural Wonders of the World.