The Maldives has officially welcomed its one millionth tourist of 2025, reaching the significant milestone earlier than in any previous year. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment via social media on Saturday, celebrating the achievement as “an incredible milestone” for the country’s tourism sector.

Tourism Minister Thoriq Ibrahim was present at Velana International Airport to personally welcome the one millionth visitor, marking the occasion with a ceremonial greeting and gift presentation. Senior officials from the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Maldives Immigration, and other key stakeholders were also in attendance.

The one millionth arrival comes at a time when the Maldives continues to strengthen its position as a leading global travel destination. The faster-than-usual pace in reaching this benchmark is seen as a positive indicator of sustained demand and successful destination promotion efforts.

According to data from the Ministry, the Maldives reached the one million mark more than a week ahead of the same milestone in 2024. The majority of arrivals continue to come from key source markets including China, Russia, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany.

Tourism remains the largest contributor to the Maldives’ economy, with the sector playing a central role in employment, investment, and foreign exchange earnings. The government continues to expand infrastructure and diversify tourism offerings — from luxury resorts and guesthouses to cultural and experiential tourism — to support continued growth.

The government has set a target of 2.5 million tourist arrivals for 2025.

Since 1990, Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) has been at the core of the Maldives’ hospitality supply chain. More than a distributor, BBM has become a trusted partner in shaping talent, raising standards, and building long-term capacity across the industry.

That commitment continues in 2025 through its title sponsorship of the Hotelier Maldives Awards, and its growing investment in culinary development and cross-industry collaboration.

Supporting the Ecosystem, Not Just the Event

BBM is the preferred partner for over 60 international brands. However, its true value lies in how it supports the people behind the brands. From chefs and service staff to back-of-house professionals, BBM works across the sector to create real impact.

This year, the Hotelier Maldives Awards 2025 expands its recognition with four new categories:

• Watersports Personality of the Year
• Diving Personality of the Year
• Airport Representative of the Year
• Resort Manager of the Year

These additions reflect a simple belief. Everyone who shapes the guest experience deserves to be seen. Not just the visible few. Everyone.

Hotel Asia and the Rise of Culinary Confidence

For more than two decades, BBM has served as the main sponsor of the Hotel Asia Exhibition and International Culinary Challenge, endorsed by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS).

This platform has consistently raised the bar by bringing over 25 WACS A-Grade international jurors to the Maldives each year. Through this effort, local chefs get to test their skills on a global scale.

To further encourage excellence, BBM launched the Chairman’s Trophy, awarded annually to the most promising Maldivian chef:

• 2023 — Chef Mohamed Adhil
• 2024 — Chef Ahmed Mazim

Each name marks a growing movement. Maldivian chefs no longer compete to participate. They compete to win.

Backing Global Exposure for Local Talent

BBM has directly sponsored Maldivian chefs to represent the country at global events, including:

• HOFEX 2017 in Hong Kong, where Chef Ahmed Fatheen and Chef Ismail Naseer earned silver
• La Sial 2018 in Abu Dhabi, where Chef Mohamed Adhil won both gold and silver
• FHA 2018 in Singapore, supporting emerging talent
• Asian Pastry Cup 2018, where Chef Aminath Hameed was recognized as a pioneering female chef
• Chinese Cuisine World Championship 2019, where Chef Ahmed Mazim won bronze
• World Chefs Congress and Expo 2022, where BBM sponsored six MNU students under its Building Young Talent initiative

Creating Spaces for Knowledge Transfer

Beyond competitions, BBM hosts world-class chefs to lead pro bono Masterclasses, including:

• Chef Bruno Ménard, holder of three Michelin stars
• Chef Edwin Leow, gold medalist at the IKA Culinary Olympics

These sessions are designed to be open, practical, and rooted in the everyday reality of resort kitchens.

Recognition with Purpose

BBM’s sponsorship of the Hotelier Maldives Awards 2025 is part of a larger support system. These awards are not marketing. They are memories. They capture the faces, names, and efforts of those who make the Maldives one of the most admired hospitality destinations in the world.

“When people are seen, they rise,” said Ali Afrah Hassan, Head of HR, Admin, and Corporate Affairs at BBM. “This platform is our way of saying you matter. Not just once a year, but every day you show up to serve.”

Whether through product support, recognition, training, or infrastructure, BBM is building something larger than supply chains. It is helping shape the culture of Maldivian hospitality.

BBM’s exclusive Dreidoppel Demo Tour, led by Master Pâtissier Frankie Robin, concluded successfully on Apr 30th, after a 10-day pastry training series across 15 leading Maldivian resorts that requested the training. Two city bakeries were also trained on the 30th. The initiative brought together global expertise and a strong commitment to raising pastry standards in the local hospitality industry.

This year’s sessions focused on practical pastry solutions using Dreidoppel’s premium ingredient range to create Panettone, Dubai chocolate brownies, Mousses, Crème Brûlée, Fill & Gloss applications, and Caramel Chocolate Snacks.

A standout feature of the tour was the passion shown by young chefs across the islands.

Chef Frankie Robin remarked, “What truly impressed me was how prepared and passionate the young chefs were. Their eagerness to learn, experiment, and take their skills to world-class standards made every session an absolute joy.”

Grounded in real kitchen challenges—speed, flavour, and efficiency—Chef Frankie’s demos showcased how smart ingredient choices can drive both creativity and performance.

A.V.S. Subrahmanyam, Chief Operating Officer at BBM, added, “At BBM, we believe in more than just supplying ingredients—we are committed to the professional growth of the industry. Collaborations like this empower culinary teams with global techniques and greater confidence.”

The tour reflects BBM’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the Maldivian foodservice industry through knowledge-sharing and access to world-class products.