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Kuoni says Maldives bestseller for 16th year, set for continued growth in 2019

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Maldives has for the 16th consecutive year retained the number one spot amongst travellers booking their holidays through Kuoni, the world-leading tour operator announced Tuesday.

In its annual Worldwide Travel Report, Kuoni said the Maldives delivers a level of luxury that was unheard of a generation ago. With 20 properties due to open over the next two years and a second runway on Male scheduled to open this year, 2019 looks set for continued growth, it added.

“The destination saw an overall 10.2% increase in UK visitor numbers last year,” the report read.

With the Maldives popularity on the rise, seaplane is listed amongst the “best ways to see the world”.

“Kuoni personal travel experts booked 7,130 return seaplane transfers in the Maldives last year, with an increase in the number of people choosing a flight over a boat transfer (64% upgraded), specifically because they want the experience,” the report read.

Two airlines handle seaplane operations: flagship carrier Maldivian and privately run Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA). A third operator Manta Air is set to begin service this year.

TMA, which is controlled by a consortium led by US-based Bain Capital and Chinese conglomerate Tempus Group, operates an all-amphibian fleet of more than 50 aircraft, making it the largest seaplane operator in the world. Maldivian has a fleet of 13 seaplanes and serves over 10 resorts.

Meanwhile, Kuoni predicted 2019 to be “a year like no other for the travel industry”, with booking patterns affected by Brexit but with long-haul sales getting a boost.

The reasons for booking holidays are changing drastically, Kuoni’s research further finds, with 70 per cent acknowledging their motivation had changed.

Nearly half of respondents say the variety of activities, workshops and retreats on offer had prompted their choice of holiday. Almost three-quarters had been on at least one holiday as an adult where they had had the opportunity to learn something new. Similarly, 60 per cent of adults said they had learnt something on holiday as a child, with more than half believing this had improved their life as an adult.

“We’re seeing a thirst for exciting new workshops, classes and excursions not just from the family market but for adults of all ages, from twenty-somethings to those in their seventies who want to pursue their interests, take time out and try something different in new surroundings,” Wendy Kenneally, Kuoni Commercial Director, was quoted in the report, as saying.

Maldives also features prominently in this category, with Kuoni highlighting the eco-centre at Kuramathi Maldives and PETER diving upcoming at Faarufushi Maldives resort, as well as dedicated yoga studios at several Maldivian resorts.

Kuoni’s 2019 Worldwide Travel Report also gives emphasis on eco-tourism, as the drive for customers wanting to travel responsibly has created incredible partnerships and initiatives across the world.

One such initiative noted by Kuoni is the replacement of single-use plastic straws with edible or reusable straws by several Maldivian resorts, including Velassaru Maldives. Velassaru has also built a recycling plant for plastic and glass, and a botanical chipper can mulch kitchen waste into compost for the island’s vegetable plots, the UK-based tour operator noted.

The year 2018 was a prosperous one for the Maldives tourism sector, as the country welcomed a record 1.4 million tourists in 2018.

Other factors such as average duration of stay, bed nights and occupancy also posted positive growth in 2018.

Despite major increases in accommodation capacity across all segments, including resorts (up 57 per  cent), guesthouses (17.2 per cent), hotels (27.9 per cent) and safari vessels (9.5 per cent), the average occupancy rate recoded a slight growth of one per cent in 2018 compared to the previous year. The occupancy rate remained at above 60 per cent throughout the year, except for four months during the traditionally off summer season.

Average duration of stay also increased by 0.2 per cent to reach 6.4 days in 2018 compared to the previous year. Total bed nights stood at 9,470,379, which was an increase of 10.2 per cent over 2017.

This positive growth in the tourism industry comes amidst concerns by 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.

These concerns come as the world-famous holiday destination struggles to match an increased bed capacity.

Over the past few 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 more than 130. That number is set to increase as another 20 resorts are expected to open over the next two years.

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 500 guesthouses in operation today.

The previous government announced 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.

Meanwhile, the new government has pledged to ramp up tourism promotion.

Reflecting the new government’s pledge, the state budget for 2019 includes MVR 104,200,000 (USD 6.7 million) for tourism promotion, up from MVR 34,733,333 (USD 2.2 million) this year and the previous year.

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Villa Resorts hosts over 200 travel agents from India to showcase its transformation

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Villa Resorts, a leading Maldivian resort group, recently hosted a series of events for over 200 travel agents from India.

The events were held to highlight the company’s recent rebranding and to familiarise travel agents with the significant changes made as part of its strategic Blue Ocean Shift.

Villa Resorts has a significant market presence in India, and the events were part of the company’s ongoing efforts to work closely with its partners to showcase its transformation and enhancements in its products and services.

The familiarisation events drew over 200 participants, making it one of the largest series of events for travel agents ever hosted by a Maldivian resort group.

Villa Resorts plans to continue hosting similar events throughout the coming year to promote its growing portfolio of resorts to the Indian market.

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‘Get Charged and Win’ promotion: Four draws, countless winners, more to go

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The ‘Get Charged and Win’ promotion, which launched with great fanfare on June 23, continues to captivate audiences across the nation with its promise of incredible prizes and adrenaline-pumping excitement. As Coca-Cola moves forward, the company has announced not one, but four draws that have rewarded lucky winners with exciting prizes!

The ‘Get Charged and Win’ promotion has been a huge success, with dozens of lucky winners taking home amazing prizes, such as Benelli motorbikes, helmets, and Charged drink cases. The promotion, which started on June 23, has been attracting customers from all over the Maldives, who have been enjoying the refreshing taste of Charged caffeinated beverage and the thrill of scratching their cards to reveal their codes.

So far, four draws have taken place, each one broadcasted live on Television Maldives (TVM) at 9:30pm. The winners of the Benelli motorbikes were Mohamed Adam, MD Musharraf, Mohamed Rasel Hossain and Ahmed Zahir who were ecstatic to receive their prizes and thanked Charged for making their dreams come true. The winners of the helmets and drink cases were also delighted with their rewards and encouraged others to join the promotion.

But don’t worry if you haven’t won yet, because there are still more chances to win! The ‘Get Charged and Win’ promotion is not over yet. That means you still have time to grab your favourite Charged drink, scratch your card, and send your code to 2626 via SMS.

As the exciting journey continues, there are two main draws left in this thrilling event, scheduled for September 24 and October 20. You could be the next lucky winner of a Benelli Leoncino 250 motorbike! But the excitement doesn’t stop there; be sure to keep an eye out for the daily draws, with winners announced regularly on the @ChargedMaldives Instagram page. You could stand a chance to win a Charged branded helmet, or a Charged drink case.

Charged, a ground-breaking addition to Coca-Cola Maldives’ beverage portfolio, is available in 250 ml, in 100% recyclable aluminium cans, in line with our packaging strategy to use 100% recyclable packaging material. The caffeinated beverage is now widely available at major retail outlets, hotels, restaurants, and cafes throughout the Maldives.

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JEN Maldives Malé by Shangri-La unveils Oro’s 100% Arabica Rose Coffee

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JEN Maldives Malé by Shangri-La has introduced a special coffee to their collection – Oro’s 100% Arabica Rose Coffee. This latest addition to the menu of Jen’s Kitchen On-the-Go aims to provide coffee lovers with the unique and delicate taste of Oro’s Arabica Rose.

The hotel was alive with excitement on Thursday evening with the launch of Oro’s 100% Arabica rose. Media personnel and coffee enthusiasts were treated to an exclusive tasting experience of freshly brewed Arabica Rose Coffee along with some tasty finger foods.

The highlight of the evening was a lucky draw giveaway, extending an invitation for all the guests to participate and win a Skechers Maldives voucher and coffee voucher from Jen’s Kitchen On-the-Go.

Oro’s Arabica Rose Coffee is now available at Jen’s Kitchen on-the-go. It is the perfect spot to refuel with coffee, tea, freshly squeezed juices, or a light bite. Customers can now enroll to become a Shangri-La Circle Member and earn points with every purchase at Jen’s Kitchen On- the-Go and enjoy the rewards at Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts worldwide.

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