Featured
Tourism and Covid-19: An opportunity to rebuild better
By Michelle Kovacevic
Scenarios by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) suggests that tourism could decline by 60-80 per cent this year, completely decimating the sector that is a key driver of growth for the world’s poorest countries.
“The impacts of Covid-19 on tourism are unprecedented. With borders closed, hotels shut down and planes on the ground tourism has come to a total standstill in the last two months,” said Zoritsa Urosevic, Director of Institutional Relations and Partnerships at UNWTO.
“The best-case scenario is a 58 per cent decline in international tourist arrivals if borders start gradually opening in July. This would be the biggest dip in international tourist arrivals in history.”
One hundred per cent of all world destinations have implemented travel restrictions in the wake of Covid-19, and this means 67 million fewer international tourists up to March, and $80 billion in lost exports.
Crucial sector for millions
Tourism is one of the largest and fastest-growing sectors in the world, representing nearly 10 per cent of the world’s GDP, 30 per cent of global services exports and providing one out of every 11 jobs.
Tourism is a crucial growth pillar for least developed countries (LDCs). In 2019, LDCs received 41 million international tourist arrivals – more than double the volume registered in 2010 – and earned $26 billion from international tourism, or 11 per cent of their total exports.
“Tourism has a very broad value chain. It relies on industries like hospitality, transport and recreation but it also feeds demand in food, arts, design, cultural products and services. This is one of the reasons that it is such an important sector for development,” Urosevic said.
The tourism value chain also provides important direct and indirect employment opportunities for vulnerable communities such as women and youth.
Tourism was also one of the main factors enabling Cabo Verde, the Maldives and Samoa to graduate from LDC status.
Despite all this, tourism is not often a government priority nor a major action sector for donors. Between 2006 and 2013, tourism comprised only 0.09 per cent of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and 0.4 per cent of aid for trade disbursements.
“This has meant that many LDCs have struggled to make the substantial infrastructure and utility investments needed to develop their tourism sector, become more competitive and advance their capacity for inclusive economic growth,” Urosevic said.
Opportunity in crisis
One of the lessons from tourism’s collapse, Urosevic said, is that governments have become fully aware of the importance of tourism to their economies, and the associated socioeconomic impacts, especially when it comes to the millions of jobs that are now at risk.
“This means that we have an opportunity to adjust our focus and step up support to invest in tourism, in particular green investment,” she said.
“What is very clear is that this work has to be done right now. We need to help countries survive through the crisis and prepare to receive tourists again.”
The World Tourism Organisation has released 23 recommendations for actions to support the tourism sector to bounce back. In LDCs, the most urgent focus has been on supporting tourism ministers to secure financial packages and additional borrowing options for mitigation and recovery offered by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other International finance institutions.
“We are helping these countries to secure the financial capacity to sustain and support tourism businesses surviving and workers to have a wage, particularly informal workers who are not registered anywhere and need social support to survive,” Urosevic said.
They have also been offering support to strengthen institutions, as well as an integrated technical assistance package covering immediate economic recovery, implementation of protocols to reopen, marketing and digitalisation.
“One of our focuses in reopening destinations is strengthening of domestic and intra-regional markets. We think this could help the sector tremendously in the immediate and as we build recovery,” Urosevic said.
The tourism sector will definitely bounce back, Urosevic said, because of the deep desire of people to travel and connect with others.
“Just listen to the people around you… everybody wants to go somewhere. Travel has become part of our DNA. We need this dream time and moment of retreat with ourselves, nature and other cultures,” she said.
“But I think travellers are going to be different. This crisis has forced many of us to live locally and so we may think more about that when travelling internationally – seeking out local food, local purchases – and growing the local production of foods and goods for the benefit of everyone, but we will TravelTommorrow!”
Note: This article was originally published on Trade for Development News. To view the original article, please follow this link.
Patina Maldives, Fari Islands will welcome Indian chef and restaurateur Atul Kochhar for a culinary residency from 7 to 9 November 2026, coinciding with Diwali.
Kochhar, the first Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin star, will bring the culinary approach of his London restaurant, Kanishka by Atul Kochhar, to Helios. The residency will present his contemporary interpretation of India’s regional cuisines, drawing on the traditions and influences that have shaped his cooking.
Rooted in Kochhar’s connection to India, the menu will combine regional flavours with contemporary techniques and carefully selected ingredients. It will reflect his approach to developing Indian cuisine while retaining its cultural foundations.
With more than 30 years in the industry, Kochhar has built an international reputation for his contribution to Indian dining. He received his first Michelin star in 2001, followed by another in 2007. His culinary philosophy brings together India’s regional diversity, traditional cooking practices and contemporary methods.
At Patina Maldives, this philosophy will be interpreted through the resort’s Indian Ocean setting and the multicultural character of the Fari Islands. The residency will give Kochhar an opportunity to adapt his culinary identity to the island and the Diwali celebrations, creating an experience shaped by the occasion and its surroundings.
Kochhar leads the Atul Kochhar Hospitality Group, whose portfolio includes Kanishka in Mayfair, Vaasu and Sindhu in Marlow, Riwaz in Beaconsfield, Masalchi in Wembley Park, Indian Essence in Petts Wood and Essence in Tunbridge Wells.
The residency forms part of Patina Maldives’ culinary programme, which connects guests with different cultures, perspectives and creative disciplines. Through Kochhar’s cooking, guests will have an opportunity to explore India’s regional food traditions and celebrate Diwali through shared dining experiences.
Baros Maldives will welcome guests for its festive season from 22 December 2026 to 7 January 2027, with a programme centred on the island’s natural surroundings, Maldivian heritage and a series of culinary, marine and cultural experiences.
The programme will combine Christmas and New Year traditions with activities inspired by island life, including ocean excursions, local cultural experiences, festive dining and wellbeing sessions.
The season will begin with a Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, followed by a series of activities introducing guests to festive traditions and Maldivian culture. These will include a Christmas cookie workshop, an Ocean, Coconut & Spice cooking class, a Maldivian Heritage Evening and an Island Christmas Market.
Marine experiences will remain a central part of the festive programme. Guests will be able to join a Sunrise Nooma sailing experience, take part in fishing trips at sunrise or twilight, explore the house reef with the resort’s marine team or join a dolphin-watching cruise.
Private yacht excursions, visits to local islands and trips to Malé will also be available for guests wishing to explore beyond the resort.
Baros Maldives will also offer a series of culinary experiences throughout the festive period. These will include a Sake Pairing Dinner, a Great Gatsby-themed five-course dinner and a Champagne Dinner inspired by the Seven Seas.
Other dining experiences will include a Butcher’s Block buffet, an Omakase tasting lunch and a Master Chef Tuna Carving Show & Tasting. Guests will also be able to take part in wine discovery experiences, cocktail-making sessions and an Island Crafted Cocktails programme.
On Christmas Eve, guests will gather at The Lighthouse for a cocktail reception before continuing to Lime for the Christmas Eve Gala Dinner.
Christmas Day will feature breakfast, festive activities and time for guests to enjoy the beach, lagoon and other island experiences with family and friends.
New Year’s Eve celebrations will begin with a cocktail reception, followed by a Gala Dinner, live entertainment and the countdown to 2027.
New Year’s Day will start with a celebratory brunch, followed by a selection of wellbeing and dining experiences. These will include a beachfront degustation dinner accompanied by live violin and saxophone performances.
Younger guests will also have a dedicated programme of festive activities, including mocktail-making, Christmas cookie workshops and island-based activities designed for families and children.
Throughout the season, Baros Maldives will host live music, marine presentations, yoga and meditation sessions alongside its wider programme of dining, recreation and ocean experiences.
The festive programme is intended to reflect the character of Baros Maldives by combining Christmas and New Year celebrations with the island’s marine environment, culinary offering and Maldivian culture.
From 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, Niva Kuramathi will mark the festive season with “A Tropical Festive Season”, a programme of dining, entertainment, outdoor activities and family experiences shaped around the island setting.
The programme will make use of Kuramathi’s natural surroundings, including its house reef and sandbank, alongside its 12 restaurants and seven bars.
The festivities will begin on the evening of 21 December with a Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the sandbank. Guests will be welcomed with drinks and live music at sunset, followed later in the evening by a traditional Bodu Beru performance.
On 28 and 29 December, the resort will host a traditional Maldivian Market, featuring Bodu Beru drumming, a folklore parade and locally made artisanal crafts.
Christmas Eve festivities
Christmas Eve celebrations will begin on the sandbank at sunset, with welcome drinks and Christmas carols. Santa Claus and his elves will also make an appearance before guests gather for a gala buffet dinner.
The evening will conclude with an outdoor screening of a classic Christmas film under the stars.
Countdown to 2027
New Year’s Eve celebrations will begin at sunset with cocktails on the sandbank.
A gala dinner will then be served across Farivalhu, Malaafaiy and Haruge restaurants before the countdown to 2027. Fireworks will mark the arrival of the New Year, while live music and DJ performances will continue at Fung Bar and Sand Bar.
Festive activities
Throughout the festive period, Niva Kuramathi will offer a programme of recreational, culinary and entertainment activities.
Guests will be able to take part in moonlit yoga sessions on the sandbank, sand sculpting, Sip & Paint evenings for couples and fire dance performances.
Sporting activities will include beach volleyball, a football match between the Niva Kuramathi team and guests, as well as kayak, pedal boat and stand-up paddleboard races.
The entertainment programme will also include wine tastings, karaoke, music trivia, live music and DJ evenings.
Cooking classes will be held at Kobe, where guests will be able to take part in sessions centred around the restaurant’s open kitchen experience.
The festive programme is designed to allow guests to participate in scheduled activities while also having the option to spend time at leisure.
The season will conclude on 1 January 2027 with a late-morning brunch and the first house reef dive of the year.
Festive programme for children
Bageecha Kids Club will host a separate festive programme for younger guests, combining recreation, creative activities and environmental learning.
Activities will include treasure hunts, splash pad games, cookie-making, arts and crafts, eco workshops, nature exploration, holiday films, karaoke, bracelet-making and gardening in the resort’s hydroponic garden.
Children will also be able to take part in scavenger hunts, mini-Olympic games, yoga and disco dancing, as well as shared lunches and dinners with other young guests.
On Christmas Eve, the programme will begin with a family photograph session, followed by gingerbread house decorating, writing letters to Santa, a palm-leaf handicraft workshop and outdoor games.
Christmas morning will feature a pyjama party with musical games and pool activities. Later in the day, families will gather at Athiri Deck to welcome Santa Claus, who will distribute gifts to children.
New Year’s Eve activities for younger guests will take place during the afternoon, with music and games around the pool followed by a children’s disco as part of the resort’s final celebrations of 2026.
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