News
Maldives participates at the Korea World Travel Fair (KOTFA) 2014
The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) together with representatives from the tourism industry are taking part in Korea World Travel Fair (KOTFA) held in Seoul, Korea from 29th May to 1st June 2014. The Maldives delegation is headed by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr. Hussain Lirar.
This fair is an open market for buyers, sellers and industries to exchange views, news, trends and ideas related to the world tourism industry. This year’s KOTFA consists of participants from many international tourism related organizations. The main purposes of these meetings are to identify opportunities to build strong ties between two countries and to identify strategies in order to increase the number of tourist arrivals from Korea. KOTFA is the perfect platform to present all of the tourism attractions that Maldives has to offer. The prospect of sharing information about our sublime destination with the other side of the world represents an amazing opportunity for the improvement of the country’s public relations.
As KOTFA celebrates its 29th world class fair this year, there are approximately 2,850 exhibitors from more than 60 countries participating with an anticipated 120,000 visitors. KOTFA aims to promote the exchange of travel information by sharing new ideas, products and services with travel professionals and the public, to promote domestic and international travel by introducing
travel attractions and products and to introduce consumer travel trends and to help develop travel products suitable to the market. They also aim to publicize the participating companies and the fair itself by inviting overseas travel writers and tour operators in cooperation with the tourism related organizations in Korea.
Since the 1960s, South Korea has achieved incredible and rapid economic growth. With the swift growth over the years, the South Korean market was expected to grow by 5% by 2014. South Korea bounced back strongly from the global economic crisis in 2010 to see its outbound travel market break new records in 2012 with more than 14.9 million trips, according to the Global Tourism Watch (GTW).
The tourist arrival statistics show that the arrivals of Korean tourists have increased by 33.4% compared to the same period of 2013. The Korean market contributes to 3.3% of the market share. Also during the period from January-April, arrival of Korean tourists have increased to approximately 10,374 tourist while statistics from the same period of 2013 shows arrival of approximately 6,911 tourist, which is an increase of 50.1% in 2014 compared to 2013.
JEN Maldives Malé has introduced the Shangri-La Circle (SLC) loyalty programme, offering dining benefits for guests from 1 April to 31 December 2026.
The programme provides free and instant membership, allowing guests to access discounts and earn reward points on dining experiences at the property. Members receive a 15 per cent discount on their first dining purchase upon joining, along with ongoing 15 per cent savings on food and beverage.
Guests can enrol in the programme through the Shangri-La Circle mobile application. Membership benefits include reward points on eligible spending, which can be redeemed for future dining and hotel experiences.
The offer applies to regular dining experiences and excludes tobacco, special theme buffet nights, and other ongoing promotions.
JEN Maldives Malé stated that the programme is designed to provide value to guests while enhancing dining experiences at the hotel. The initiative also reflects Shangri-La’s focus on strengthening guest engagement through loyalty-based offerings.
Members are required to present their digital membership card at the time of billing to access the benefits.
The hotel is promoting the programme through its social media channels, in-house displays, and digital platforms. Guests can download the Shangri-La Circle application or sign up at the hotel to begin using the programme.
Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives has been nominated in the Resorts category for the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (UK) and the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (US), marking a further development in the resort’s international recognition.
The Readers’ Choice Awards are based on traveller feedback and are considered a key benchmark within the global travel industry. The dual nomination reflects the resort’s presence across international markets and its engagement with guests from different regions.
The nomination follows a series of recognitions for the resort. In 2025, Kuda Villingili was ranked among the Top 5 Overseas Leisure Resorts Worldwide in the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Awards, placing fifth globally. It was also listed among the Top Resorts in the Indian Ocean in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 (US). The resort was similarly recognised in the 2024 edition of the awards.
Located in North Malé Atoll, approximately 30 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives offers 75 villas and residences, each with private pools and views of the surrounding ocean.
The resort features eight restaurants and three bars, including Japanese-Peruvian dining at Mar-Umi and Teppanyaki by Mar-Umi. Other dining options include Asian cuisine at East and grill offerings at Fire. Additional facilities include a cigar lounge, a large swimming pool, a spa with overwater treatment villas, and a range of wellness and recreational activities such as yoga, sound therapy and surfing.
Amjad Thaufeeg, Commercial Director at Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives, stated that the nominations reflect feedback from guests across international markets and noted the importance of maintaining consistent service standards.
Voting for the Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 is open until 30 June 2026, with results scheduled to be announced in November 2026.
Baros Maldives is set to host a curated Earth Day experience titled Earth Day in Bloom on 22 April 2026, offering guests an evening programme centred on sustainability, nature and locally sourced ingredients.
The event will begin at 6:30pm at the resort’s Chef’s Garden, where guests will be welcomed with a Garden Spritz before taking part in a guided tour of the garden. The tour will introduce participants to local herbs and island-grown produce cultivated on the property.
As part of the programme, guests will be invited to plant their own herb, contributing to the garden while engaging in an activity aligned with environmental awareness. The experience will continue with a garden dinner starting at 7pm, featuring a menu designed around fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from the island.
An optional pairing of organic wines will also be available, providing an additional element to the dining experience.
The event is priced at USD 175 per person, excluding applicable service charge and taxes. Reservations can be made through the resort’s butler service.
The initiative reflects Baros Maldives’ focus on sustainability-led guest experiences, integrating environmental awareness with culinary offerings and on-island activities.
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