News
LUX* South Ari Atoll announces charity initiative with Maldivian Blood Services
Maldives.net.mv – ‘By promising a luxury holiday with a difference, LUX* South Ari Atoll has heightened the festive spirits of its guests with the newly launched Tree of Wishes on the island. Inspired by an ancient Japanese festival, the weekly appointment at the LUX* Tree of Wishes offers not only a moment to gather feelings and emotions and turn them into wishes written on auspicious red ribbons, but also opens an opportunity to learn about the local communities and support them through various social initiatives.
LUX* South Ari Atoll CSR programs in the Maldives currently engage with several NGOs and among them, the Maldivian Blood Services (formerly National Thalassaemia Center). With the aim of improving the services provided to patients suffering from this hematological disorder, the resort and the Maldivian Blood Service team have signed an agreement allowing both parties to interact on a greater scale generating ways to foster cooperation among medical institutions. The charity support offered by the resort enables the Maldivian Blood Service to cater for more patients with dedicated initiatives to promote blood donation throughout the country.
Guests staying at LUX* South Ari Atoll have the opportunity to contribute by placing a voluntary donation at the Tree of Wishes. All the offerings cumulatively raised by the resort are used to support local charities but by tying a ribbon to the branches of the banyan tree, each guest becomes part of the annual Tree of Wishes Lucky Draw. During the event, one ribbon is picked at random and the lucky owner wins a free holiday at any property within the LUX* Resorts and Hotels portfolio.
‘We are thrilled to have our guests participating in this important cause with us’ says General Manager Glenn Daniels ‘as we believe that holidays are not only a moment to relax an unwind, but also a celebration of life and that embodies our commitment to support local communities’. Keeping not only its guests’ wishes at heart but also the environment we operate in, LUX* South Ari Atoll aims to translate corporate responsibility into social development and continues to deliver an inspiring lighter holiday experience.
Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA), the world’s largest seaplane operator, has once again strengthened its position as a global aviation leader with new accolades at the World Travel Awards 2025. The airline was named the World’s Leading Seaplane Operator 2025 and the Indian Ocean’s Leading Seaplane Operator 2025, acknowledging its continued contribution to air connectivity across the Maldives. The 32nd Annual World Travel Awards ceremony took place at Exhibition World Bahrain and was attended by more than 300 leaders from the international tourism industry.
Established in 1993, TMA has played a central role in shaping the Maldives’ aviation and tourism sectors. Operating the world’s largest seaplane fleet with 65 DHC-6 Twin Otters and serving over 80 resort destinations, the airline provides vital connectivity across the archipelago with a focus on safety, reliability, and operational efficiency. Conducting more than 400 flights daily, TMA remains essential in enabling access to resort islands nationwide.
Commenting on the achievement, A.U.M. Fawzy, CEO of Trans Maldivian Airways, said: “This prestigious recognition from the World Travel Awards, year after year, reflects the trust placed in our team by our partners and guests, and the responsibility we carry as the primary air service provider connecting resort destinations across the Maldives. At TMA, our focus remains on continuous improvement and building on decades of service excellence. As the tourism industry in the Maldives continues to evolve and grow, we will continue strengthening our operations and supporting the long-term development of the Maldives as a world-leading destination.”
TMA continues to enhance its operational capabilities through ongoing investments in fleet upgrades, infrastructure, staff training, and technology-driven improvements, ensuring it meets rising demand while maintaining its hallmark of dependable service.
As the Maldives prepares for further growth in visitor arrivals, Trans Maldivian Airways remains committed to working closely with industry partners, supporting national tourism objectives, and ensuring a seamless and reliable travel experience for guests visiting the country’s island destinations.
Maldives has won the world’s most popular destination award for the sixth consecutive year.
The country retained the World’s Leading Destination title at the 32nd World Travel Awards held in Bahrain on Saturday.
The World Travel Awards, first presented in 1993, are regarded as one of the key recognition platforms in the global tourism sector.
Maldives also received the World’s Leading Green Destination award at this year’s ceremony.
Several Maldives-based properties and operators received international recognition:
- Hulhule Island Hotel received the World’s Leading Airport Hotel award
- Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi won the World’s Leading Luxury Private Island Resort award
- Vakkaru Maldives was named the World’s Leading Private Island Resort
- Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) received the World’s Leading Seaplane Operator award
Siyam World, a five-star resort owned and operated by Sun Siyam, has entered the Guinness World Records for organising the highest number of people snorkelling simultaneously at a single venue.
The resort achieved the record through the ‘Snorkel World 300’ event held on Friday morning.
The event, conducted with Free Dive Maldives, included participants from 13 islands across Noonu Atoll, Baa Atoll, Haa Alifu Atoll and Haa Dhaalu Atoll. While the target was more than 250 participants, a total of 307 people took part.
Fahud Faiz of Free Dive Maldives, who played a central role in organising the event, said the outcome was possible due to the cooperation of Siyam World and the work of multiple contributors.
Fahud said Siyam World’s management supported the initiative and that both Siyam World and Free Dive Maldives shared the approach needed to carry out the event.
At the conclusion of the event, all participants received an official Guinness World Records medal. This was the first time participants of a Guinness World Records event in the Maldives were awarded the medal.
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