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India to evacuate 700 citizens from Maldives
India is to evacuate 700 of its nationals stranded in the Maldives due to a lockdown to contain the contain the coronavirus outbreak.
Two Indian naval ships are en route to the Maldives.
On Friday, the ships will ferry the evacuees to Kochi in Kerala where they will be quarantined for at least 14 days before being allowed to move to their respective destinations.
“Preference would be accorded to already registered cases with the High Commission on compelling grounds such as medical/pregnancy/elderly/death in family/stranded tourists/workers who lost jobs and destitute cases,” a statement issued by the Indian high commission in Male read.
“HCI is reaching out to Indians who wish to travel on compelling grounds (medical emergencies, pregnancy, stranded tourists, job-lost migrant workers).”
Indians make up a large portion of the foreign workforce in the Maldives, with many from the Maldives’ closest neighbour working as teachers and doctors, as well as construction workers.
A total of 51 Indians have tested positive for coronavirus in the Maldives.
This repatriation operation comes weeks after Italy, Indonesia and Philippines evacuated over 700 citizens from the Maldives.
The EU and UK, as well as Russia and Egypt have also evacuated their nationals from the Indian Ocean tourist paradise.
Turkey and Ukraine have also planned similar evacuation operations this week.
The Maldives has enforced a blanket suspension of on-arrival visa in a bid to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Even before the visa suspension, the Maldives had closed its borders to arrivals from some of the worst-hit countries, including mainland China, Italy, Bangladesh, Iran, Spain, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Visitors from three regions of Germany (Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg), two regions of France (Île-de-France and Grand Est) and two regions of South Korea were also banned from entering the country.
All direct flights to and from China, Italy, South Korea and Iran were also cancelled.
Cruise ships and foreign yachts were also banned from docking at any of the country’s ports.
The coronavirus outbreak has hit the Maldivian economy hard, as travel restrictions and other preventive measures affect the country’s lucrative tourism industry, which contributes the bulk of the island nation’s state revenue and foreign reserves.
Before the pandemic, the government had been bullish about tourism prospects, targeting two million, high-spending holidaymakers this year after last year’s record 1.7 million.
However, tourist arrivals saw a year-over-year decline of 22.8 per cent in the first 10 days of March. Officials say the number of tourist arrivals to the Maldives could drop by half in 2020.
With the visa suspension in effect and no international airlines flying into the country, several resorts across the Maldives had been closed.
Tourism has been the bedrock of the Maldives’ economic success. The $5 billion-dollar economy grew by 6.7 per cent in 2018 with tourism generating 60 per cent of foreign income.
However, the government is at present projecting a possible 13 per cent economic contraction this year — an estimated $778 million hit.
On March 8, Maldives reported its first cases of the novel coronavirus, as two hotel employees tested positive for Covid-19 at a luxury resort in the archipelago.
Eighteen more cases — all foreigners working or staying resorts and liveaboard vessels except five Maldivians who had returned from abroad — were later identified.
A six-case cluster of locals, detected in capital Male on April 15, confirmed community transmission of the coronavirus. Several more clusters have since been identified, bringing the total number of confirmed case in the Maldives to 557.
Only one death has been reported and 18 have made full recoveries.
The Maldives announced a state of public health emergency on March 12, the first such declaration under a recent public health protection law.
The public health emergency declaration has allowed the government to introduce a series of unprecedented restrictive and social distancing measures, including stay-at-home orders in capital Male and its suburbs, a ban on inter-island transport and public gatherings across the country, and a nationwide closing of government offices, schools, colleges and universities.
Non-essential services and public places in the capital such as gyms, cinemas and parks have also been shut.
Restaurants and cafes in the capital have been asked to stop dine-in service and switch to takeaway and delivery.
A nationwide shutdown of all guesthouses, city hotels and spa facilities located on inhabited islands is also in effect.
Photo: The Indian high commission in Maldivian capital Male. PHOTO/ MIHAARU NEWS
Milaidhoo Maldives will mark International Men’s Day with a cocktail-making competition for male guests, as the resort celebrates its tenth anniversary this November.
The occasion will also recognise the contributions of the men involved in the resort’s development and operations over the past decade. Since its establishment, Milaidhoo has maintained a focus on Maldivian hospitality and cultural traditions, with its original vision continuing to influence the guest experience.
As part of the celebrations, the resort will host Gentlemen & Cocktails, an interactive cocktail-making challenge at Compass Pool Bar.
The event will begin with a workshop led by the bar’s bartenders, who will introduce participants to the fundamentals of cocktail preparation. Following the workshop, participants will compete to create their own signature cocktails using a selection of ingredients.
Each participant will receive a black box containing secret ingredients, which must be incorporated into their creation. They will also be required to select an additional herb, vegetable or aromatic ingredient from the resort’s Chef’s Garden.
Participants will have a limited amount of time to prepare their cocktails, with their partners serving as judges. The creations will be assessed based on flavour, presentation and originality.
The winning cocktail will be featured as the Cocktail of the Day at Compass Pool Bar for one week. The winning couple will also be entitled to unlimited servings of their creation for the remainder of their stay.
The International Men’s Day celebrations form part of Milaidhoo Maldives’ tenth anniversary year, recognising the people who have contributed to the resort’s development and its approach to hospitality.
Through the cocktail-making competition, the resort aims to provide guests with an interactive experience while commemorating International Men’s Day.
Angsana Velavaru has announced its festive programme for Christmas and New Year, featuring seasonal celebrations, family activities, dining experiences, cultural performances and marine excursions in the Maldives.
The celebrations will begin with a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, bringing guests together to mark the start of the festive season. On Christmas Eve, the resort will host traditional Christmas carols at sunset, while younger guests can look forward to a visit from Santa Claus.
Throughout the festive period, families will be able to participate in activities such as gingerbread cookie decorating and bracelet making. The programme will also include outdoor games and beach activities, including football matches and traditional tug-of-war competitions.
Traditional Bodu Beru performances will form part of the celebrations, introducing guests to Maldivian music and cultural traditions.
Dining will be a central part of the festive programme, with the resort hosting a Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas brunch. New Year’s Eve celebrations will feature a New Year Garden Soirée Dinner, followed by a New Year brunch on 1 January. The resort will also organise dedicated celebrations for guests observing Orthodox Christmas.
In addition to the seasonal activities, guests will have opportunities to explore the surrounding marine environment through excursions such as manta ray and turtle safaris. The resort will also offer wellness experiences for those seeking relaxation during their stay.
The festive programme is designed to accommodate couples, families and groups of friends, combining traditional Christmas and New Year celebrations with recreational activities, cultural experiences and the resort’s existing leisure offerings.
Through its programme of dining, entertainment, outdoor activities and marine excursions, Angsana Velavaru aims to provide guests with a range of experiences throughout the festive season.
Kandooma Maldives has introduced a new pickleball court, expanding its recreational facilities as the paddle sport continues to gain popularity worldwide.
Combining elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, pickleball is a sport that is relatively easy to learn and suitable for players of different ages and abilities. The new facility allows guests to participate in singles or doubles matches, offering an additional recreational activity for families, couples and groups staying at the resort.
The pickleball court is open daily from 6am to 6pm, with paddles and balls available for guests to borrow from Reception.
Court reservations can be made through the resort’s Recreation or Front Office team. Each villa is entitled to one complimentary hour of court use per day.
The introduction of pickleball forms part of Kandooma Maldives’ efforts to expand its recreational offerings and provide guests with more opportunities to participate in sports and group activities during their stay.
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