Business
Adding local flavours, South Africa’s Barcelos comes to Maldives
South African restaurant franchise Barcelos has opened an outlet in Maldives, combining its world famous flame grilled chicken with a unique local flavour.
Barcelos Maldives, located near the presidential palace of Muliaage, opened for business last week with a seating capacity of 68.
Restaurant Manager Ali Hussain told Maldives Insider that the menu has been carefully selected to satisfy locals. It offers a combination of Barcelos’ signature dishes such as chicken burgers, grilled chicken and breakfast options along with trendy local items such as Kanamadhu (sea almond) cake, he said.
“Our menu and service have been well-received by the public. We have had an overwhelming crowd in here at all times since our opening,” Hussain said.
Some items from the menu of Barcelos.
What differentiates Barcelos from similar outlets is how its chicken is marinated in a traditional marinade for 24 hours before being flame grilled to perfection and served with its own style of peri peri sauce. In addition to Barcelos’ existing range of sauce varieties such as Tangy Lemon, Mild Peri, Veri Peri and Supa Peri, the franchise has crafted a sauce exclusively for the Maldives; Flaming Peri.
“We found that a lot of Maldivians like their food really hot. That’s where Flaming Peri comes in. We prepared the recipe just for the Maldives, so that Maldivians can enjoy their chicken with a whole new level of spicy,” Barcelos’ Business Operations Manager George Ehlers, who is in the Maldives to train the staff in quality control, told Maldives Insider.
“A lot of Maldivians love the Flaming Peri sauce. We will look into introducing this variety in other countries as well.”
The variety of peri peri sauces offered by Barcelos. PHOTO/ AVAS
The two-storey outlet is designed to create an ambience that reflects the culture and heritage of its namesake city in Portugal, which still stands as the perfect place to have a leisurely and hearty meal or a slow cup of coffee. The staff of 12, out of which eight locals, are being trained by George himself from two weeks before the opening of the restaurant in order to ensure that customers — from families to office workers — experience a relaxed and convenient dining experience.
Barcelos opened its first store in Pretoria, South Africa in 1993. Its flame grilled flavours, made using recipes mastered by the Portuguese hundreds of years ago, became so popular that it became a franchise business in 1998. Since then Barcelos has opened more than 100 outlets in 17 countries, including South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique, Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan, Canada, UK, Dubai, Oman, Mauritius and Singapore.
Photos: Avas Online
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.
-
Action1 week agoMischa Zverev returns to JOALI BEING to host tennis workshops in August
-
Drink1 week agoGourmet bliss: Escapade gourmande by Constance Hotels in Maldives
-
Drink6 days agoMuraka Restaurant at Mirihi Island Resort receives 2024 Wine Spectator Award
-
News1 week agoNova Maldives unveils group brunching experiences for families, friends
-
News1 week agoPatina Maldives reaffirms commitment to sustainable tourism with 2024 Earthcheck Silver certification
-
Drink1 week agoDive into fun with popsicles at Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort’s pool bar
-
News1 week agoIsland indulgence at COMO Maalifushi this summer
-
Cooking6 days agoMercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort unveils revamped Vista Restaurant