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Forbes Travel Guide ranks Maldives among top destinations for 2025

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Maldives has been named one of Forbes Travel Guide’s top destinations for 2025, solidifying its position as a premier global travel hotspot. Known for its pristine beaches, overwater villas, and unrivalled natural beauty, the Maldives continues to capture the imagination of travelers seeking far-flung luxury and wellness experiences.

Forbes Travel Guide’s selection reflects a growing trend among travellers gravitating toward remote locales and wellness-focused getaways. Highlighting this shift, Forbes notes, “From the tranquil beaches of the Maldives to the vibrant cultural landscape of Bhutan, these destinations offer a diverse range of experiences that go beyond a typical vacation.”

Travel to the Maldives is set to become even more seamless with the anticipated 2025 completion of renovations at Velana International Airport. The expansion will include a new passenger terminal, an additional runway, and a state-of-the-art seaplane terminal, significantly enhancing connectivity and convenience for international travellers. These upgrades aim to complement the Maldives’ allure as a destination that epitomises exclusivity and ease.

The Maldives is increasingly recognized as a leader in wellness tourism, offering transformative experiences that prioritise personal well-being and connection with nature. Forbes highlights two Five-Star resorts that are setting benchmarks in this sector:

  • JOALI BEING: Renowned for its immersive wellness programs, JOALI BEING offers a comprehensive approach to personal transformation, with tailored experiences that cover everything from mindful nutrition to restorative sleep therapies.
  • Velaa Private Island: The recently launched Velaa Wellbeing Village is redefining wellness luxury. With a focus on Ayurvedic, osteopathic, and medical services, the facility includes a Pilates and yoga studio, as well as a healthy dining option, ensuring holistic care for guests.

While the Maldives’ resorts are iconic, the destination’s appeal extends far beyond luxury accommodations. The archipelago’s rich marine life, vibrant coral reefs, and unique cultural heritage provide unparalleled opportunities for exploration and discovery. From snorkelling with manta rays to enjoying traditional Maldivian cuisine, visitors are immersed in experiences that highlight the natural and cultural treasures of this idyllic destination.

Being featured among Forbes Travel Guide’s top destinations for 2025 underscores the Maldives’ enduring appeal in the international travel landscape. With enhancements to infrastructure and a growing emphasis on wellness, the Maldives is poised to welcome discerning travellers seeking the ultimate blend of luxury, tranquility, and personal enrichment.

As Forbes aptly puts it, “The Maldives makes for the ultimate faraway dream vacation.” With 2025 on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to start planning your escape to paradise.

Awards

Atmosphere Core earns triple honours at Layalina Editor’s Choice Awards

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Atmosphere Core concluded 2025 with a strong industry showing, securing three major honours at the Layalina Editor’s Choice Awards 2025 for RAAYA by Atmosphere, Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives and OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi. The accolades underscore the group’s ability to deliver clearly differentiated resort concepts for diverse traveller profiles, while maintaining a consistent emphasis on quality, comfort and guest satisfaction across its portfolio.

At the awards, RAAYA by Atmosphere was named Best New Luxury Resort of the Year – Maldives. Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives received the title of Best All-Inclusive Luxury Resort, while OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi was recognised as Most Stylish Resort – Maldives. The honours are based on Layalina’s independent editorial assessment and established quality benchmarks, celebrating excellence across luxury hospitality, all-inclusive offerings and lifestyle-led design. Layalina is a leading Arab lifestyle publication under 7awi Media Group, with a strong readership and influence across the GCC and wider region.

Collectively, the awards highlight Atmosphere Core’s understanding of evolving travel expectations, delivering experiences that are thoughtful, well-crafted and easy to enjoy, whether guests are seeking tranquillity, variety or social energy.

Each of the recognised resorts brings a distinct identity to the group’s Maldivian portfolio. RAAYA by Atmosphere, located in the Raa Atoll, is defined by its serene environment and castaway-artist concept, encouraging guests to slow down and reconnect through nature, creativity and adventure. Atmosphere Kanifushi continues to stand out for its scale and consistency, offering a generous all-inclusive experience through the Kanifushi Plan™, expansive villas and a long, natural island setting that appeals to both families and couples. In contrast, OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi delivers a more dynamic island escape, characterised by contemporary design and a lively social atmosphere that resonates with travellers drawn to shared spaces, movement and modern aesthetics. Together, the accolades reflect a carefully curated portfolio designed to cater to a wide spectrum of travel moods and preferences.

Commenting on the achievement, Ashwin Handa, Chief Operating Officer of Atmosphere Core, said the group was honoured to receive the Layalina Editor’s Choice Awards 2025, recognising the three resorts across distinct categories. He noted that the recognition reflects the company’s carefully curated experiences, shaped by a strong sense of product, space and genuine care, and credited the passion and commitment of the teams, as well as the continued trust of guests, for the achievement.

Central to these successes is Atmosphere Core’s philosophy of the Joy of Giving, which positions hospitality around care, generosity and attention to detail. This approach informs destinations that feel closely connected to their natural surroundings and supports bespoke experiences that anticipate guest needs. The result, the group says, is a style of hospitality that is welcoming, effortless and personal, creating meaningful moments that endure beyond the stay itself.

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Fuvahmulah receives Tiger Shark Dive Award at DRT Expo KL

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Fuvahmulah City Council participated in the Malaysia edition of the Diving, Resort & Travel (DRT) Expo held in Kuala Lumpur, promoting Fuvahmulah as a tourism and dive destination to international audiences.

The council took part in the expo through Discover Fuvahmulah, the official destination brand of Fuvahmulah City Council, which leads efforts to market the island to travellers and the global dive community. During the event, Fuvahmulah was recognised with the Tiger Shark Dive Award, highlighting the island’s global reputation for year-round tiger shark diving.

DRT Expo is one of Asia’s established dive and travel exhibitions, bringing together dive operators, tourism boards, resorts and travellers from across the region. The Kuala Lumpur edition attracts a large number of dive enthusiasts, travel professionals and specialised tourism operators, providing a platform for destinations to engage directly with key markets.

Through Discover Fuvahmulah, the City Council promotes the island as a distinct tourism destination via its official website, social media platforms and participation in international dive fairs. The branding focuses on Fuvahmulah’s unique positioning as a single-island destination, its marine biodiversity, and its growing appeal for niche tourism segments, particularly diving.

Fuvahmulah has gained international recognition in recent years for its consistent tiger shark encounters, which take place close to shore and throughout the year. The award received at DRT Expo KL reflects the destination’s standing within the global diving community and its continued efforts to strengthen visibility in international markets.

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Awards

Kuramathi Maldives earns HolidayCheck Gold Award for consistent guest satisfaction

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Kuramathi Maldives has once again cemented its status as one of the Maldives’ leading holiday destinations by earning the coveted HolidayCheck Gold Award 2026. This prestigious accolade recognises the resort’s enduring popularity and consistent excellence in hospitality, marking it as a top choice for travellers across the globe.

The HolidayCheck Gold Award is an exclusive honour reserved for hotels that have demonstrated remarkable consistency in guest satisfaction. To qualify for this distinction, a property must have received a HolidayCheck Award at least five times since 2019. This rigorous criterion ensures that only establishments delivering sustained high-quality experiences over several years are recognised.

Reflecting on this milestone award, General Manager Bertrand Margerie expressed immense pride: “We are thrilled to be recognised with the HolidayCheck Gold Award 2026. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and passion of our entire team, who strive every day to provide exceptional service. Knowing that this award comes directly from the positive feedback of our guests makes it even more meaningful, and we look forward to continuing to deliver world-class Maldivian hospitality.”

Located in the North Ari Atoll, Kuramathi stretches across 1.8 kilometres of lush, tropical beauty. This idyllic sanctuary, with its vibrant coral house reef that gently unfurls into a shimmering sandbank, is a perfect symbol of natural beauty. From its pristine beaches and lush vegetation to its diverse dining options and heartfelt service, Kuramathi continues to set the benchmark for Maldivian hospitality. The Gold Award serves as a testament to the thousands of positive reviews and recommendations shared by satisfied guests who have experienced the magic of the island firsthand.

Travellers seeking an award-winning escape are invited to discover why Kuramathi remains a perennial favourite. Whether looking for a romantic retreat, a family adventure, or a diving getaway, the resort offers an exceptional environment that consistently exceeds expectations.

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