Business
Soneva Jani introduces private residences for sale
Soneva has introduced extraordinary beachfront private residences for sale at their newest resort, Soneva Jani in one of the world’s most breathtaking locations, the Maldives.
The new luxurious villas, which have mesmerising views over a white-sand beach and turquoise lagoon, come with five star services and playful waterslides. Daily sunshine is a given.
The first four-bedroom beachfront residence has been completed. The proud owners are a British family, who have been regular visitors to Soneva’s sister resort in the Maldives Soneva Fushi, and now want to spend more time in the island paradise.
There will be only a limited number of villas built on the island of Medhufaru, which is part of an uninhabited five-island cluster in the Noonu Atoll. The island stretches around five kilometres, making Soneva Jani one of the lowest density resorts in the world, ensuring privacy and exclusivity for its owners.
The luxury beachfront residences, ranging in size from one to four bedrooms, have direct access to the powder white sand beach and westerly facing views over the crystal-clear lagoon. Spacious indoor and outdoor entertaining areas look out over a private pool to the beach beyond, and owners can choose to have a waterslide to give them direct access from the living areas on the first floor direct to the pool below. The homes can include an open-air bathroom, fitness room, sauna and wine cellar among other luxuries. As each residence is bespoke to the owner, there are many different options to choose from.
Owners will also have the benefit of the five star services of the resort such as their ‘Mr and Mrs Friday’ butler service, housekeeping, room service and access to the resort’s facilities. These include a spa, a dive centre, an observatory, a children’s den, organic gardens and an outdoor cinema. The resort serves global cuisine at five dining outlets, and complimentary cheese, chocolate, ice-cream and charcuterie rooms.
Constructed using time-tested indigenous techniques, the residences are made from sustainable materials that are sourced and adapted to preserve the integrity of the environment and the local communities that surround them.
Commenting on the appeal of purchasing property in the region, Marco Bonini, Sales Director for Soneva Residences says: “The amazing lifestyle that can be enjoyed in the Maldives is a key reason why people invest here. Our owners can, however, also benefit from good rental returns, typically around four-five percent, after all costs.”
“As Soneva is a globally recognised, brand we have a very good all year-round occupancy. We do not rely solely on one region for guests. We have European, Scandinavian, Middle Eastern, Russian, Chinese, Japanese and American nationalities staying, which drives rental returns for the owners of our residences.”
With cooling tropical breezes and average temperatures of around 28°C during the day and 23°C at night, the Maldives offers an ideal climate in which to own a home.
The country also has a stable and transparent legal system, and a rate of annual capital growth that has averaged 7.5 percent over the last 15 years.
There are regular direct flights to the Maldives (Velana International Airport) from the UK with British Airways flying several times per week with a flight time of 10 hours. There is also a choice of indirect routes with other airlines such as Emirates, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines and SriLankan Airlines. The resort is then only 35 minutes by seaplane from the main Velana airport or a 12-minute speedboat ride for guests on domestic flights landing at the nearby Dharavandhoo Airport.
Prices start at US$3 million. Larger bespoke family villas, such as six and seven bedroom properties, can be built on request.
Maldives on Thursday welcomed the one millionth tourist to visit this year.
The one millionth tourist is a Thai named Sutapa Amonwivat, who arrived from Singapore with her husband and two children. This is her second visit to Maldives.
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) and the Ministry of Tourism gave a warm welcome to Sutapa at the Velana International Airport (VIA) Thursday afternoon. She was welcomed at the VIA by tourism minister Ibrahim Faisal, MMPRC Managing Director Ibrahim Shiury and senior officials of various relevant agencies.
After welcoming her with traditional offerings, she was presented with various gifts by the ministry, MMPRC, customs, immigration, Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) and Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA).
Maldives reached one million tourists in June, three weeks earlier than last year. The number of tourists reached one million on July 16, 2023.
Maldives expects to reach 2 million tourists this year.
Chongqing Airlines on Monday began its inaugural flights to Maldives.
The Chongqing-Male route, scheduled three times a week, is expected to strengthen the bonds between China and the Maldives, opening up exciting new opportunities for tourism and cultural exchange.
The inaugural flight was welcomed upon its arrival at Velana International Airport (VIA) in Maldives, where local officials and tourism representatives expressed their enthusiasm for this new development.
“We warmly welcome our friends from China to our beautiful islands. This new connection strengthens our bonds and opens up new opportunities for tourism,” the tourism ministry said on X.
Maldives currently welcomes four airlines from China, including China Eastern, Beijing Capital Airlines, Xiamen Airlines.
In January, Maldives government urged tourism stakeholders in both Maldives and China to ramp up efforts to restore China’s position as the primary source market for Maldives tourism, a status held before the onset of Covid-19.
China, being the largest source market for Maldives tourism before the pandemic, saw a resumption of tourist arrivals from January 2023 after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. In 2023, the Maldives welcomed 187,118 Chinese tourists, marking a significant recovery in numbers. This year, the Maldives has welcomed the most number of tourists from China, with over 107,940 or 11.5 percent of total arrivals by June 12.
CROSSROADS Maldives has introduced WeChat Pay, widely known as Weixin Pay in China, across its world-class resorts, SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, and Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. This payment option is made available to enhance the convenience and overall experience for guests from China, making their stay in the Maldives more enjoyable and hassle-free.
Understanding the needs of the diverse guests, CROSSROADS Maldives has integrated WeChat Pay into operations, allowing guests from China to easily and securely conduct transactions using a payment method familiar to them. The introduction of WeChat Pay is a testament to CROSSROADS Maldives’ dedication to enhancing guest satisfaction by offering exceptional experiences at every turn. What is also expected through this initiative is that the guests could benefit from better foreign exchange rates, translating to better savings on their expenditures during their stay.
The option is available for guests in-house conveniently at both resorts as well as across the Marina at CROSSROADS Maldives where a wider variety of unparalleled dining and retail experiences are available for all guests. The day visitors from China will also therefore equally benefit from this new introduction at the Maldives’ premier multi-island integrated leisure destination.
SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, is a vibrant tropical escape that offers unique and locally inspired experiences. The resort features spacious rooms and villas, a variety of dining options, and an array of recreational activities designed to cater to the desires of modern travellers. Guests can escape to the island’s SAiisational natural beauty, enjoy water sports, and indulge in spa treatments, all while relishing the personalised service that defines Hilton’s Curio Collection.
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives brings the iconic Hard Rock spirit to the tranquil shores of the Maldives. This family-friendly resort offers a perfect blend of relaxation and entertainment, featuring music-inspired experiences, live performances, and the brand’s signature amenities. With luxurious accommodations, diverse dining options, and a plethora of activities for all ages, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives ensures an unforgettable holiday experience for every guest.
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