Business
Maldives hosts tourism promotion activities in Japan
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has commenced a series of marketing activities in Japan.
The series began with participation in Tourism Expo Japan, which will be followed by a multi-city, joint roadshow with Singapore Airlines under the theme of “Journey to the Sunny Side” to maximise the Maldives brand exposure.
During the Tourism Expo Japan, being held in Osaka from October 24-27, MMPRC together with four tourism industry partners are showcasing the destination.
Business meetings with the industry stakeholders are being held in order to identify strategies to further improve the market performance and strengthen the presence of the destination within the Japanese market.
To attract more visitors to the stand, several activities are being carried. This includes conducting a quiz for the visitors to win gift bags, opportunity to experience the underwater beauty of the Maldives through VR gear, and traditional food display where visitors can taste Maldivian food.
“Tourism Expo Japan, considered to be the largest travel fair in Japan targeted to enhance outbound and inbound travel of Japan, presents numerous opportunities for destination promotion. It provides travel professionals an ideal platform for exchanging travel information,” a statement issued by MMPRC read.
“Furthermore, this fair inspires consumers by showcasing the facets of tourism industry. 1,441 companies and organisations from 136 countries exhibited in the fair last year. This year the fair is estimated to have 130,000 visitors which includes 34,000 trade and press.”
Meanwhile, the “Journey to the Sunny Side” roadshow will be held in Nagoya, Tokyo, Fukuoka, and Osaka from October 28-31.
Seven partners from the Maldives’ tourism industry have participated in this roadshow to create potential opportunities and to further strengthen the relationship with Japanese tour operators.
“It will serve as a platform form for tourism industry partners to showcase products and network with top travel trade industry partners from Japan,” the press release read.
The roadshow in Japan marks the 10th event in the series of “Journey to the Sunny Side” roadshows organised by MMPRC to further promote the Maldives in the global market.
Japan is one of the top 10 source markets as well as one of the important traditional markets to the Maldives.
A total of 42,304 tourist arrivals were recorded from Japan in 2018 which is an increase of 2.8 per cent compared to 2017. By the end of August 2019, 30,049 tourist arrivals were recorded from Japan which is an increase of 13.2 per cent compared to the same period of 2018.
Business
Feydhoo Hall opens at dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives as new event space
Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has announced the opening of Feydhoo Hall, a landmark event venue at dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives, redefining the possibilities for meetings, celebrations, and destination events in the Maldives.
Designed to bring scale, flexibility, and creativity to island gatherings, Feydhoo Hall represents a bold step forward in positioning the Maldives as a dynamic destination for conferences, weddings, and large-scale social occasions.
Feydhoo Hall offers a versatile event complex designed to accommodate a wide range of gatherings, from corporate meetings and conferences to weddings and social celebrations.

At its core is the 390 sqm Main Hall, capable of hosting:
- Up to 300 guests in theatre-style setup
- Up to 240 guests for dining and banquet-style events
- Up to 200 guests for cocktail-style receptions
- Up to 144 guests in cluster-round configuration
Enhancing the flexibility of the venue are additional dedicated spaces, including:
- A 110 sqm Veranda Terrace, ideal for welcome receptions, breakout sessions, and pre-event gatherings, accommodating up to 100 guests for cocktail-style events.
- A spacious 1,000 sqm Lawn Space, perfect for large-scale outdoor celebrations, destination weddings, and open-air events, accommodating up to 400 guests for cocktail receptions and up to 350 guests for dining setups.
- The 55 sqm Ekugai Meeting Room, designed for smaller meetings and executive sessions, accommodating up to 30 guests in theatre or dining setup and 24 guests in cluster-round format.
Together, these integrated spaces create a seamless indoor-outdoor event experience, allowing planners to design dynamic and personalised event journeys.
True to the dusitD2 brand’s lifestyle-driven philosophy, Feydhoo Hall introduces a fresh approach to meetings and events — where productivity meets creativity in an inspiring island setting.
The venue offers flexible meeting formats designed to suit different event needs, including:
- Half-Day Meeting Package (4 hours) — ideal for focused sessions, executive meetings, and creative workshops.
- Full-Day Meeting Package (8 hours) — designed for immersive conferences, extended workshops, and large-scale corporate gatherings.
These thoughtfully structured packages provide planners with the flexibility to create impactful and seamless experiences, whether hosting intimate strategy sessions or dynamic full-day events.

Located just seven minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives combines accessibility with vibrant lifestyle energy, offering event planners and guests a rare balance between convenience and tropical escape.
With the introduction of Feydhoo Hall, the resort strengthens its position as a versatile destination — not only for leisure travellers but also for international conferences, creative retreats, luxury weddings, and large-scale social celebrations seeking something refreshingly different in the Maldives.
Business
BBM expands retail presence with new Hulhumalé outlet
Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) opened a new wholesale store in Hulhumalé Phase 2 on Monday.
The outlet is located on the ground floor of Lot 20286, Nirolhu Magu, and is intended to improve access to BBM’s imported goods for residents of Hulhumalé Phase 2 and for businesses operating in the area.
According to the company, the opening forms part of its plan to expand services closer to customers in line with population growth in Hulhumalé.
With the opening of the new store, BBM’s full range of imported and distributed products will be available at the Hulhumalé Phase 2 location. These include consumer goods from international brands such as Lifebuoy, Vaseline and Unilever.
The store will also stock wholesale food products from brands including Daily, Cavin’s and Redman.
BBM has supplied goods to resorts, hotels and retail outlets across the Maldives for several years.
Action
Ataraxis Grand & Spa hosts integrated work-and-dive corporate retreat in Fuvahmulah
Ataraxis Grand & Spa recently hosted a week-long, closed corporate offsite in Fuvahmulah for a US-based artificial intelligence company, highlighting the island’s growing suitability for integrated work-and-experience retreats. The retreat brought a group of 36 international professionals to the property, which was reserved exclusively for the programme.
Designed as a private company offsite, the stay combined structured daily work sessions with guided diving and beginner-friendly surf experiences, creating a balanced format that blended focused collaboration with physical reset.

A notable component of the programme was dive training and certification. During the retreat, 17 participants completed their Open Water certification, while a further six undertook the Advanced Open Water course, with training and dives scheduled alongside work sessions as part of the integrated itinerary.
Throughout the week, participants worked on-site using dedicated shared spaces supported by reliable high-speed internet, allowing meetings, informal collaboration and scheduled activities to take place within a single, uninterrupted environment. This setup enabled teams to move seamlessly between work periods and organised ocean activities without leaving the property.

Fuvahmulah’s natural and operational advantages formed a key part of the retreat’s appeal. As one of the Maldives’ largest inhabited islands, it offers immediate access to pelagic dive sites, internationally recognised shark diving and surf breaks suitable for instruction, alongside the infrastructure required to support extended group stays.

The offsite reflects a growing preference among technology and knowledge-sector teams for small-scale retreats that prioritise concentrated work environments and team cohesion over traditional conference formats. Such programmes typically involve longer stays and higher per-capita spend, aligning with sustainable, quality-driven tourism models.
The retreat also demonstrates how locally operated properties such as Ataraxis Grand & Spa are supporting this shift by delivering unified environments where accommodation, workspaces, connectivity and curated experiences operate as a single programme rather than separate services.

As organisations continue to explore alternative formats for strategy sessions, team resets and creative offsites, Ataraxis Grand & Spa’s experience positions Fuvahmulah as an increasingly viable destination for integrated corporate retreats.
Ataraxis Grand & Spa offers work-and-dive retreat programmes in Fuvahmulah that combine accommodation, dedicated workspaces, high-speed connectivity and organised diving and surfing.

Further information on retreat formats and dive-inclusive stays is available via the Ataraxis Grand & Spa website.
-
Cooking1 week agoWomen at heart of kitchen: Milaidhoo Maldives marks International Women’s Day through gastronomy
-
Action1 week agoAtmosphere Foundation launches annual dive training scholarship for Maldivians
-
Entertainment1 week ago‘One festival, every sense’: Fari Islands Festival announces August 2026 return
-
Awards1 week agoBandos Maldives earns Booking.com Traveller Review Award 2026
-
Featured1 week agoAncient banyan tree anchors spiritual experiences at Machchafushi Island Resort
-
News1 week agoMeyyafushi Maldives opens with focus on design-led all-inclusive experiences
-
News7 days agoRefined overwater vision: Velaa Private Island’s upgraded Ocean Pool House
-
Featured7 days agoYoko Kawaguchi to lead holistic wellness residency at Vakkaru Maldives


