News
Maldives participates at Arabian Travel Market 2016
Maldives.net.mv – Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation together with partners from Maldives Tourism Industry are to taking part in Arabian Travel Market 2016 (ATM 2016). ATM is annually held at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center. This year the fair is going to be held from 25th to 28th April.
This year is the 22nd edition of the Arabian Travel Market; the first ATM was organized in 1994 by Reeds Exhibition. The company has been successfully organizing Travel and Trade fairs worldwide. Other exhibitions organized by Reed Exhibition are WTM London, WTM Africa and ILTM Top Resa to name a few.
Arabian Travel Market is the third largest Fair which MMPRC participates. This year more than 50 companies from the Industry registered for ATM. More than 100 participants have traveled to Dubai to attend the largest travel and trade fair in the Middle East.
Tourist arrivals from the Middle East have been growing over the years. A growth of 12.8% of tourist arrivals was recorded in 2015 compared to previous year. The biggest market in the Middle East is Saudi Arabia. As of February 2016 a total 7,073 tourist from Middle East have visited Maldives. Compared arrivals in 2015 for this duration a growth of 10.6% is observed.
Middle East is the Transportation Hub from which major Airlines such as Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Fly Dubai have regular scheduled flights directly to Ibrahim Nasir International Airport. Recently addition to flight from Middle East is Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Saudi Airlines.
Although with such good connections between Maldives and Middle East tourist arrivals from this region are still comparatively low when compared to European regions. The main objective for ATM 2016 is to identify strategies to further boost arrivals from this region. To achieve this goal meeting major tour operators and travel agents as well as Airlines will carried during ATM. In addition to this Maldives will also give a destination briefing in Travel Agent Academy a special networking and training event for Travel Agents.
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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