News
Joint Meeting of the Two Commissions in Asia Pacific and UNWTO Regional Ministerial Conference
The 27th Joint Meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Commission for East Asia and the Pacific (CAP) and the UNWTO Commission for South Asia (CSA)& UNWTO Regional Ministerial Conference on Positioning Tourism in a Wider Socio-Economic Contextwas hosted in Maldives from 3rd-4th June 2015, at Bandos Island Resort& Spa, Maldives. Countries from East Asia and South Asia were represented in the commission meeting, with affiliated members and numerous international organizations.
The Opening Ceremony held on 3rd June 2015 at Bandos Island Resorts & Spa, was enhancedby the presence of His Excellency President Abdul Yameen Abdul Gayoomas the Guest of Honor, and comprisedof some very special and important events for the Maldives tourism industry. This includes the Visit Maldives 2016 Year Campaign being nationally launched by His Excellency Yameen Abdul Gayoom. This campaign is a destination marketing initiative by the Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation (MMPRC) with the objective of increasing tourist arrivals to the Maldives. This event was followed by the endorsement of the Open letter campaign by the Maldives, during the ceremony where the Dr. TalebRifai, Secretary General of UNWTO presented the open letter to His Excellency President Yameen Abdul Gayoom. This campaign is a joint effort by UNWTO and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTCC) to maximize travel and tourism’s contribution economic growth and development. By accepting this open letter, His Excellency endorsed this campaign geared towards encouraging world leaders to acknowledge tourism’s potential to generate growth, development and employment.
The Ministerial Conference on Positioning Tourism in a Wider Socio-Economic Context was held in conjunction with the Joint Commission meetings with two main objectives:
To take stock of the event to which UNWTO’s Open Letter initiative has achieved its main objective of advocating that countries duly recognize the socio-economic contribution of tourism to their national economies;
And to examine national policies that will engender strategies to ensure that the projected growth in tourism demand will translate into socio-economic benefits for non-tourism sectors of the Asia-Pacific economies.
Ministers of Tourism, Deputy Ministers and senior government officials discussed and debated the next steps in strengthening government awareness and support to enable advancement of the tourism sector. Stimulating discussions enabled open sharing of national and regional insights, experience and expertise from various tourism experts. The main focus of the Joint Commission Meeting and the Ministerial Conference was on the developments in the world tourism industry, remarks and milestones achieved by the tourism industry and also the challenges and obstacles faced by the industry and how to overcome those challenges were also discussed.
Honorable Minister of Tourism, Mr. Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor, hosted a special Gala Dinner on 3rd June, honoring and welcoming the delegates to the Maldives. Ministers, senior government officials, Maldivian tourism industry pioneers and a huge number of industry participants also attended the dinner and were part of this social function. A very significant ceremony also took place during the dinner, where Maldivian Industry leaders signed the Private Sector Commitment to Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (GCET) and the five prominent enterprises and associations signing this commitment included the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), Crown &Champa Resorts, Sun Island Resorts & Spa, Centara Hotels & Resorts Maldives and Canareef Resort Maldives. Private By signing this commitment they pledge their commitment to observe the principle of the Code; respecting human rights and cultural heritage, protecting the environment and vulnerable groups, working towards social inclusion, gender equality, and accessibility – that is, abiding by highest moral values that we as a society have accepted as fundamental in the 21st century.
The CAP-CSA Joint Commission meeting is UNWTO’s principal annual event in the Asia Pacific Region, and the meetings took place in Bandos Island Resort & Spa on 4th June 2015. The Joint Commission Meeting was chaired by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State, Culture and Tourism, India and was co-chaired by Mr. Rolando Cañizal, Assistant Secretary of Tourism, of Philippines. Honorable Minister of Tourism, Mr. Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor lea the delegation from Maldives for the joint commission meeting. Key topics discussed during the meetings this year included UNWTO’s program of work for the region, Asia’s use of TripAdvisor as a source of consumer’s data and other statutory issues related to the UNWTO Asia-Pacific Member States.Mr. Mohamed Umar Maniki, Chairman of MATI, honoring the delegates and extending them to warm hospitality of Maldives, hosted a farewell dinner on the evening of 4th June at Bandos Island Resorts & Spa. The efforts of the chairman were complimented with participation from senior government officials and tourism industry leaders in this social gathering.
The events were concluded with a special technical tour organized by Ministry of Tourismfor the delegates on 5th June 2015, aimed at exposing the participants to the unique Maldivian tourism products and the Maldivian hospitality. The first half of this technical tour included a photo flight excursion, where the delegates took a tour of the Male’ atoll area in the Twin Otter seaplanes of Trans Maldivian Airways, flying over the pristine lagoons and islands of Maldives, taking a closer look at the scenic details enabling them to truly appreciate the beauty of the paradise on earth.This was followed by a high tea organized by Kuramathi Island Resort, where the locals where exposed to the outstanding Maldivian hospitality.
Cooking
Three Michelin-starred chefs head to Conrad Maldives Rangali Island for Michelin Master Series 2026
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, owned by Ventive Hospitality and operated by Hilton under the Conrad Hotels & Resorts brand, will host its Michelin Master Series 2026 from 19 October to 7 December 2026, bringing three Michelin-starred chefs to the Maldives for 12 culinary experiences across the resort.
Part of Ventive Hospitality’s five-resort, 515-key Maldives portfolio, the series will feature Chef Theodor Falser, Chef Simon Hulstone and Chef Gabriela Filca, with each residency combining chef-led dining, tasting menus, wine experiences and culinary interactions across the resort’s distinctive dining venues. Ventive’s Maldives portfolio comprises Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, the three Anantara properties at Dhigu, Veli and Naladhu Private Island, and Raaya by Atmosphere.
Three chefs. 12 experiences. One culinary calendar.
- Theodor Falser (19–24 October): Sunset Soirée; seven-course dinner at Ithaa; Champagne Cruise; five-course beachfront dinner with Maldivian lobster and Ruinart Champagne
- Simon Hulstone (16–21 November): Sunset Soirée; seven-course dinner at Ithaa; five-course Wine Cellar dinner with wine pairings; five-course beachfront dinner
- Gabriela Filca (1–7 December): Sunset Soirée; tasting menu at Ithaa; four-course beachfront dinner with Maldivian lobster; interactive culinary masterclass
The series opens with Theodor Falser, chef behind the Michelin-starred Johannesstube in South Tyrol. Falser took over the restaurant in 2014 and earned its Michelin star within his first year. His culinary philosophy is rooted in nature, seasonal ingredients and South Tyrolean produce, with his “Taste Nature” concept drawing heavily from the landscapes of the Dolomites.
From 16–21 November, Simon Hulstone will bring more than three decades of culinary experience to the island. Chef-proprietor of The Elephant in Torquay, which has held a Michelin star for more than 20 consecutive years, Hulstone is a Roux Scholar, former UK National Chef of the Year and two-time Great Britain representative at the Bocuse d’Or. His approach also extends to sustainable sourcing, with produce for The Elephant supported by his 90-acre farm and regional producers.
The series concludes with Gabriela Filca, Chef de Cuisine at Nebo Restaurant & Lounge at Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa. At 23, Filca became one of the youngest women to lead a Michelin-starred kitchen; Nebo retained its Michelin star under her leadership, while she was named Gault&Millau’s Great Chef of Tomorrow and received Croatia’s Michelin Young Chef Award.
The programme will make use of some of Conrad Maldives Rangali Island’s most recognisable culinary settings.
The chefs will host seven-course tasting menus at Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, the world’s first undersea restaurant, located five metres beneath the Indian Ocean and seating just 14 guests. The resort’s Wine Cellar, located two metres underground, houses 18,000 bottles across up to 800 labels and will host Simon Hulstone’s five-course wine-paired dinner.
The programme will also extend to the beach and open waters, with a sunset Champagne cruise aboard the Majesty Yacht, beachfront dinners featuring local Maldivian lobster, and a culinary masterclass with Filca exploring modern techniques and the creative process behind her cuisine.
Food and beverage is an increasingly important value driver within luxury hospitality, contributing not only to guest experience but also to the overall economics of a resort. Across our international portfolio, F&B and other services contributed 40% of revenue in Q1 FY27, while our Maldives resorts delivered a 15% year-on-year increase in same-store TRevPAR in FY26. Culinary programming such as the Michelin Master Series allows us to build on this strength by bringing recognised culinary talent to our destinations, creating additional reasons for guests to choose our resorts while deepening the value and differentiation of the overall stay,” said Ranjit Batra, Chief Executive Officer, Ventive Hospitality Ltd.
The Michelin Master Series 2026 reinforces Conrad Maldives Rangali Island’s position as a destination where culinary programming, destination-led dining and high-value guest experiences form an integral part of the resort proposition.
Cover photo (R-L): Theodor Falser, Simon Hulstone and Gabriela Filca.
Zipline Maldives, the first island-to-island zipline in the Maldives, has received the Global Excellence Award for “World’s Most Beautiful Zipline – Maldives” at the Global Brand Awards 2026.
The recognition was presented as part of Season 2 of the Global Brand Awards, Sri Lanka Chapter. The certificate of achievement was presented to Ibrahim Asim of Vahmaafushi Picnic Island, recognising the project’s contribution and performance.
Located in South Malé Atoll, Zipline Maldives connects Maafushi with neighbouring Vahmaafushi, taking riders across 428 metres of open ocean between the two islands. The attraction, which opened earlier this year, introduced an island-to-island zipline experience to the Maldives and has added a new adventure tourism offering to the country’s local island sector.
The ride takes approximately 45 to 60 seconds and operates on two parallel lines, allowing two people to travel side by side. According to Zipline Maldives, more than 2,000 riders from over 50 countries have used the attraction since its launch.
The experience begins in Maafushi and crosses the lagoon to Vahmaafushi. A standard booking includes the 428-metre zipline ride, safety briefing and equipment, a return speedboat transfer, a welcome drink and access to Vahmaafushi Island. The attraction is open to riders aged six and above, subject to a weight range of 40 to 110 kilograms and operating conditions.
Vahmaafushi was developed as an experience-focused island close to Maafushi, combining the zipline with beach visits, dining, private celebrations and other island activities. Located around two minutes from Maafushi by boat, the island forms part of efforts to expand the range of experiences available to visitors staying in one of the Maldives’ largest local tourism destinations.
The zipline was introduced commercially in May 2026, with its operators positioning the over-ocean crossing as a new attraction for tourists and residents. Its location near Maafushi also allows visitors staying in the wider South Malé Atoll area to incorporate the activity into day excursions.
The Global Excellence Award marks an international recognition for the attraction within months of its opening, as local tourism operators continue to introduce experience-based activities alongside the Maldives’ established accommodation and marine tourism offerings.
Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, part of the Privé Collection within the House of Siyam, has announced its festive programme, “Eutopia: The Infinite Bloom”, which will run from 22 December 2026 to 7 January 2027.
The seasonal programme features activities and experiences for guests of all ages. Dining will take centre stage with Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve gala dinners by the water, exclusive Chef’s Table experiences and seafood barbecues on the beach.
The evening entertainment programme will include live acoustic performances, island DJ sets, aerial dance shows and Maldivian cultural performances.
During the day, guests will be able to explore the resort’s lagoon through activities such as house reef snorkelling, sunset Jet Car rides and sandbank excursions. The Spa will offer wellness rituals and couples’ therapies, while younger guests can take part in gingerbread decorating, a fashion show and Santa’s arrival on the beach.
“Eutopia is our invitation to celebrate and embrace nature, meaningful moments, and the relaxed luxury that defines Sun Siyam Vilu Reef through our festivities,” said Masdhooq Saeed, Cluster General Manager.
“From unforgettable ocean adventures to starlit beach celebrations, every experience has been thoughtfully designed to create lasting memories that will continue to flourish long after the season ends.”
The programme will culminate with a New Year’s Eve celebration on the beach on 31 December, featuring live music, midnight toasts and a fireworks display over the water.
The resort’s festive programme is available to view online, with bookings open for stays between 22 December 2026 and 7 January 2027.
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