Featured
Maldives central bank posts strong growth forecast for ‘resilient’ tourism industry
Maldives central bank has posted a strong growth forecast for the country’s tourism industry as it hailed the resilience of the industry observed last year.
In its annual report for 2016 released Tuesday, Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) said the strong growth observed in the tourism sector during the latter part of last year is expected to continue this year. The strong growth is attributed mainly to the increased number of tourists from the European market, which reflects better growth prospects for the region, it added.
Mirroring the positive outlook for the sector, MMA projected bed nights growth to be at five percent in 2017.
“These projections may be even higher if the remarkable performance seen in the tourism sector at the turn of the year continues,” the report read.
Recovery in second half of 2016
Maldives marked 2016 as ‘Visit Maldives Year’ in an effort to reach a target of 1.5 million tourists entering the country during the year. Several tourism promotion activities were carried out in Asia and Europe, and many competitions and events were also held within the Maldives to boost tourist arrivals. While the campaign was successful in attracting 1.3 million tourists — four percent more than the previous year — it fell short of reaching the 1.5 million target.
According to MMA, the trend in tourist arrivals to the Maldives during 2016 showed that arrivals picked up strongly in the second half of the year. This increase was underpinned by improving economic conditions in European countries, coupled with a rise in flight movements by international carriers over the period, the authority said adding that the strong growth in arrivals from the European markets more than offset the decline in arrivals from the Chinese market.

MMA noted that other key indicators such as bed nights growth also followed a similar trend, gaining momentum towards the latter part of the year and recording an overall growth of three percent for the year. Reflecting this, the average duration of stay, which has been on a downward trend, fell only slightly to 5.6 days in 2016 from 5.7 days in 2015, contributing to a six percent growth in estimated tourism receipts, it said.
The tourism sector witnessed a major expansion in terms of the number of resorts and bed capacity in 2016, the authority stressed. With the opening of 11 new resorts, the total number of resorts in the country increased to 126 at the end of the year, while the number of registered guesthouses, hotels and safari vessels reached 382, 16 and 144, respectively. With regard to bed capacity, the average operational bed capacity of the industry7 stood at 29,457 beds.
Tourist demographics: Europe regains market share
As for the market share of tourists, Europe accounted for 45 percent of total tourist arrivals, while Asia accounted for 46 percent. Reflecting the improving economic conditions in the European markets, market share for Europe increased; this was a reversal of the downward trend of previous years. However, the market share of Asia — the market leader since 2014 — dipped from the 49 percent in 2015 to 46 percent in 2016.
Arrivals from the European market grew significantly at seven percent during 2016 after recording a marginal growth rate of one percent in 2015. This was mainly supported by growth in arrivals from the UK, despite a marked depreciation in the pound sterling. On the other hand, Germany, the second largest market from the region registered a marginal growth owing to political tensions in their country. Other key markets such as Italy registered a remarkable positive growth, whereas growth in tourists from France dropped significantly during the year. Arrivals from Spain also registered a sizeable growth compared with previous years. In addition, arrivals from smaller source markets in Eastern, Central and East Mediterranean Europe also improved.
“This can be attributed to an increase in flight movements to these regions during the year,” the report read.

MMA noted that arrivals from Russia — the fourth largest European market — also showed a strong positive growth after recording two consecutive years of negative growth. This reflected the easing of the recent economic recession that was prevalent in the country, it said.
Total arrivals from the Asia and Pacific region registered a marginal decline in 2016 after posting a positive growth during the previous year. Growth was largely hampered by the 10 percent decline in Chinese arrivals.
However, other key markets from the Asian region — such as India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia — showed pronounced growth on the back of increased flight movements. Some operators introduced flights to new destinations in 2016, including new flights to New Delhi and Colombo, contributing to more arrivals from both India and Sri Lanka.
MMA attributed the increase in arrivals from Malaysia to the growth in flight movements of a regional low-cost carrier from South East Asia during the year.
Arrivals from the Middle East also posted a strong growth rate, owing to an increase in arrivals from Saudi Arabia. This may be due to a new the commencement of Saudi Arabia’s flagship carrier Saudia between Riyadh and the Maldives, according to MMA.
Arrivals from the Americas, which have doubled in the past five years, also increased due to considerable growth in arrivals from the US.
Similar trends in 2017?
Despite the strong growth forecast by the central bank, Maldives has experienced another slowdown in tourist arrivals in the first quarter of the year. January saw a significant increase in arrivals, but growth has slowed down since then with a 2.1 percent drop in arrivals in March.
Europe, the largest regional source market which has been recovering for the past couple of months after a year of falling growth, also posted a drop of three percent in March with important European markets such as the United Kingdom declining by nine percent.
Middle East, one of the most important emerging source markets, also observed a decline of 8.3 percent in March with arrivals from Saudi Arabia dropping by 31 percent.
Leading global market research and analysis firm STR has also said that the Maldives tourism industry observed a moderate performance in the first quarter of the year.
A report analysing Asia Pacific hotel industry performance shows that occupancy fell by one percent to 69 percent in the Maldives during the first quarter. Average Daily Rate (ADR), however, increased by 2.3 percent to MVR13,044.63 (USD846.5) and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) was up 1.3 percent to reach MVR9,000.17 (USD584).
RevPAR growth was moderate in the Maldives throughout the quarter despite a 10.3 percent increase in January, which was due to a 32 percent rise in arrivals from China during the Spring Festival Golden Week holiday. RevPAR growth for the quarter, however, became muted with declines in both February (-3.8 percent) and March (-4.2 percent).

Over the past three years, dozens of uninhabited islands have been leased to local and foreign resort developers. Several international brands have entered into the market, increasing the number of resorts to 120. That number is set to increase as the government has announced the opening of some 20 new resorts by the end of this year.
Along with the new resort openings come the challenge of increasing demand from budget travellers who choose guesthouses over luxury resorts that the Maldives is known for. The guesthouse sector has rapidly expanded with over 300 guesthouses in operation today.
Government has come under fire from private organisations representing industry stakeholders such as the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) over the lack of effort and budget to promote the Maldives as a destination.
The government has recently announced new steps to maintain a structured growth in tourism, including a slowdown in leasing islands for resort development and increased marketing efforts in key markets such as China and the Middle East in order to reach an ambitious target of a record 1.5 million tourist arrivals this year.
Photo courtesy: Amilla Fushi
Drink
The Nautilus Maldives hosts Gregor Zimmermann for three-day Easter gastronomic programme
At The Nautilus Maldives, time is guided by personal rhythm and creativity is free from constraint. From 3 to 5 April 2026, the ultra-luxury private island resort will welcome Gregor Zimmermann, Switzerland’s State Chef and Executive Chef of the Bellevue Palace in Bern, for an intimate Easter culinary residency that brings Alpine heritage to the shores of the Indian Ocean.
During the three-day residency, guests will be invited to take part in a series of unhurried and immersive dining experiences. Two exclusive gourmet evenings at Zeytoun will feature tasting menus that create a refined dialogue between the flavours of the Swiss Alps and Maldivian produce. The programme also includes a Chocolate Masterclass, offering an interactive introduction to Switzerland’s celebrated chocolate-making traditions, where Zimmermann will share techniques, cultural heritage and the artistry behind the craft, allowing guests to create and enjoy their own confections.
The residency will extend into the island’s Easter celebrations, with Zimmermann’s creations appearing as special canapés during Nautilus Rising at the Naiboli Beach pop-up. These moments will serve as a prelude to the festive programme, blending culinary artistry with the relaxed rhythm of island life.
A member of the prestigious Le Club des Chefs des Chefs, the international association of chefs serving heads of state, Zimmermann is the trusted culinary custodian for visiting presidents, royalty and official delegations in Switzerland. His career includes cooking for figures such as President Emmanuel Macron and members of European royal families. In recognition of his contribution to gastronomy and his commitment to excellence, he was awarded the Officier du Mérite Agricole by the French President.
Zimmermann’s cuisine is defined by clarity, restraint and emotion. Rather than adhering to a fixed signature style, his cooking reflects stories of origin, landscape and memory, weaving Swiss Alpine traditions with global influences in a technically precise yet expressive approach. He has described his work as a continuous reinterpretation of rustic Swiss recipes, while remaining faithful to their roots.
Adan Gomez, General Manager of The Nautilus Maldives, said that Zimmermann’s residency reflects the resort’s commitment to artistic freedom and authenticity. He noted that the Masters for Masters series invites respected global talents to create without boundaries in an environment shaped by individuality and unhurried living.
Set within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Easter residency at The Nautilus will bring together Swiss craftsmanship and Maldivian serenity in a celebration of purity, artistry and cultural exchange. The programme is designed to offer guests moments shaped by mastery, experienced entirely on their own terms.
Featured
St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort curates timeless Valentine’s experiences with IVAR Jewellery
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has unveiled an intimate celebration of love through an exclusive collaboration with IVAR Jewellery, bringing together craftsmanship, emotion, and timeless romance in a refined island setting. Rooted in shared values of artistry and enduring beauty, the partnership invites guests to experience love as something continuous, evolving, and deeply personal.
Central to the collaboration is IVAR’s Infinity Collection, inspired by the circle as a symbol with no beginning and no end. Each piece reflects a quiet and enduring expression of love, designed to preserve fleeting moments in lasting form. The collection speaks to intimacy, connection, and the promise of forever, offering jewellery that is both meaningful and timeless.
IVAR’s creations draw on the rich traditions of Indian craftsmanship, reinterpreted through a contemporary design approach. Crafted by skilled artisans using time-honoured techniques, each piece balances heritage with modern elegance. Designed for daily wear and long-term appreciation, the jewellery is intended to accompany life’s most significant milestones and be treasured across generations.
Inspired by this philosophy, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has curated a series of romantic experiences that reflect the elegance and symbolism of the Infinity Collection. At Iridium Spa, couples are invited to enjoy a Romantic Spa Escape, an immersive sensory journey infused with rose geranium and rose quartz. Each treatment is designed to restore balance, deepen connection, and create moments of calm intimacy that extend beyond the spa.
As evening approaches, romance continues with Valentine’s dining experiences set beneath open skies and framed by the island’s natural beauty. Soft lighting, refined menus, and an unhurried atmosphere encourage couples to linger, connect, and celebrate togetherness. Every detail is composed to honour shared moments and the quiet luxury of presence.
For couples preparing to begin their next chapter, IVAR’s Solitaire Collection offers a classic expression of commitment. Defined by diamonds of exceptional brilliance and clarity, each piece reflects the purity of the promise it represents. Set within the surroundings of The St. Regis Maldives, weddings become personal celebrations where elegance, emotion, and artistry come together.
Through this collaboration, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort and IVAR Jewellery invite guests to experience a love that is both effortless and profound, fleeting yet enduring, creating memories inspired by the infinite symbol that lies at the heart of the partnership.
Featured
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives launches March flash offer with savings of up to 80%
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives has announced a limited-time flash offer inviting travellers to experience the Maldives in March, one of the destination’s most favourable months, with savings of up to 80 per cent when booking direct. The promotion is available across all four Cinnamon resorts in the Maldives and combines discounted rates with added island experiences, allowing guests to enjoy the destination during a period of ideal weather conditions.
The promotion is open for bookings from 23 January to 8 February 2026, for stays between 1 March and 31 March 2026, using the coupon code MAR26.
Guests booking under the offer can look forward to a range of experiences, including diving and snorkelling excursions with opportunities to encounter manta rays, reef sharks and sea turtles. On land, activities include island hopping, sunset fishing trips, Balinese spa treatments and four-course beachfront dinners. Guests staying a minimum of three nights are also eligible to receive resort credits of up to USD 150, providing additional value during their stay.
At Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives, guests booking direct may select any two island experiences, or enjoy up to all available benefits once per stay depending on their GHA DISCOVERY membership tier, along with USD 100 in resort credits for stays of three nights or more. Available experiences include a beach dinner, a Balinese massage, a swim and snorkel excursion, and a local island visit.
At Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives, guests may select any two island experiences, or enjoy up to all benefits once per stay depending on their GHA DISCOVERY membership tier, together with USD 150 in resort credits for qualifying stays. Available options include a beach dinner, a spa treatment, island hopping and dolphin watching.
At Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives, guests may select any two island experiences, or enjoy up to all benefits once per stay depending on their GHA DISCOVERY membership tier, along with USD 100 in resort credits for stays of three nights or more. Experiences include sunset fishing, island hopping, a bottle of sparkling wine and a kayaking experience.
At Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon, guests booking direct may select any two island experiences, or enjoy up to all benefits once per stay depending on their GHA DISCOVERY membership tier, together with USD 100 in resort credits for qualifying stays. Available experiences include a beach dinner, a Balinese massage, sunset fishing and a dolphin safari.
Under the GHA DISCOVERY membership programme, Silver tier members may select two benefits, Gold tier members may select three benefits, and Platinum tier members are entitled to all listed benefits once per stay.
In addition, GHA DISCOVERY members who book direct are eligible for further privileges, including the ability to earn and redeem DISCOVERY Dollars, potential room upgrades up to suite category, and early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability and membership tier.
Available for a limited time, the flash offer is designed to encourage travellers to visit the Maldives in March, when weather conditions are favourable and island experiences are at their most appealing.
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