VISIT MALDIVES NEWSLETTER JULY 2018

LATEST NEWS

The Maldives Reports Another Impressive Rise in UK Visitor Figures with an 11.2% Increase During the First Six Months Of 2018
Latest figures from the Maldives show that the destination saw an 11.2% increase in the number of UK travellers who visited in the first six months of 2018, when compared with the same period in 2017. In total, 57,535 UK tourists arrived in the Maldives from January – June 2018, compared with 51,737 in 2017. June itself also welcomed a 6.2% growth in the number of UK tourist arrivals, when compared with the same month in 2017. Overall, 6,459 travellers from the UK visited the Maldives in June 2018, compared with 6,081 in June 2017, accounting for 6.9% of all tourist arrivals to the Maldives and therefore representing the third largest inbound market for arrivals globally, after China (17.5%) and Germany (8%), respectively.

Commenting on the increase of tourist arrivals, the Maldives' Minister of Tourism, Hon. Moosa Zameer, said, “We are once again very pleased to see a notable increase in the number of UK and worldwide arrivals to the Maldives. The increase is testament to the country's world-class tourism industry and with several exciting developments planned for the remaining months of 2018 and into 2019, including the opening of a number of resorts, we look forward to welcoming even more UK tourists to our shores.”
For further information on the Maldives, visit www.visitmaldives.com.

ADVENTURE AND ACTIVE NEWS FROM THE MALDIVES

Kandima Maldives To Host Fitness Guru in September 2018
Guinness World Record holding fitness guru Ewa Chodakowska is to host a wellness week at Kandima Maldives from 16-22 September 2018. Guests will take part in two workout sessions a day and enjoy healthy meals curated by Marta Kielak, the official BeActive brand dietitian. Participants will also receive private dietary consultations before and after the event and be provided with customised body readings using the Body Composition Analyser.
For more information or to book, visit www.kandima.com/ohsofitwithewa.

The Recently Opened Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi Highlights Its Offerings for Adventurous Travellers
Recently opened in April 2018, Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi offers a variety of fun and immersive activities. Travellers can jet off on the Fairmont Maldives private yacht for a sunset dolphin tour or learn traditional line fishing methods whilst on board the Maldivian dhoni. Home to one of the best new diving sites in the world, guests at the resort can also explore the treasures of the underwater world with diving and snorkelling experiences in the 600-hectare lagoon surrounding the resort. Fitness fanatics will also delight in the variety of water sport and exercise activities offered at Fairmont Maldives, from sea kayaking and jet skiing to beach volleyball and an authentic Maldivian Warrior Workouts, which use beach materials such as coconut shells for a full body workout.
For more information, visit www.fairmont.com/maldives/.

Fluo Night Diving at Baros Maldives
Baros Maldives was home to the first Dive Centre to open in the archipelago in 1979 and offers exceptional diving offerings for daring guests. These include fascinating 'Fluo Night Diving', a unique adventure that allows guests to see the reef in an entirely 'different light' and is completely safe, due to the resort's close proximity to the sheltered waters on the house reef. Experienced divers will be mesmerised when diving with lights specifically designed to generate the maximum amount of bio-fluorescence (blue light), with a barrier filter that goes over the mask. Certain marine life absorbs part of the blue light and emits a different colour in return, causing the fluorescence effect.
For more information, visit www.baros.com.

Mirihi Island, Maldives, Introduces a 'Manta Ray Safari'
Guests at Mirihi Island, Maldives, can now enjoy an exhilarating day out swimming with one of the most impressive and elusive species in the world: the majestic Manta Ray. Guided by a team of local experts, guests will set sail aboard a traditional Maldivian Dhoni boat or a 55ft pine-wood yacht in search of the Manta Ray. If lucky enough to spot the Maldives' largest sea inhabitant, guests will be encouraged to jump into the water and snorkel alongside these gentle giants. Manta Rays are one of the friendliest creatures in the ocean and are known to majestically swoop over and around swimmers, at times coming breathtakingly close.
For more information, visit www.mirihi.com.

Four Seasons Resorts Maldives Launches Submarine Experience
In May 2018, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru became the first place to launch submarine excursions with DeepFlight, producer of the world's highest performance personal submarines. In a world exclusive, DeepFlight Adventures takes up to two guests on a once-in-a-lifetime sub-aquatic "dive" exploration of the Maldives' only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, in the company's most advanced model yet: the Super Falcon 3S. With a professional pilot at the controls, passengers can skim over coral formations; fly through shoals of brightly coloured fish; encounter creatures such as turtles, sharks, dolphins and rays; and explore the Maldivian waters down to a depth of 37 metres – all without getting wet.
For more information or to book, visit www.oceantravelasia.com.

NEW HOTELS AND RESORTS

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort to Open in October 2018
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is set to open in Baa Atoll in October 2018. Located on its own exclusive island in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the resort will be accessible in 20 minutes by speedboat from Dharavandhoo Airport and in 40 minutes by seaplane from Velena International Airport. The resort's 70 expansive accommodations boast unrestricted ocean views from the comfortable sunbeds of their private decks, many of which have private pools. Activities on offer for guests at the resort will include sailing, windsurfing, surfing, parasailing, sea kayaking, jet skiing, water skiing and stand-up paddle-boarding.
For more information, visit www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=4760&language=en_US

Universal Resorts Maldives Announces Opening of Faarufushi Maldives in December 2018
Faarufushi in Raa Atoll will welcome guests from 15 December 2018 with 80 spacious villas that offer a blend of contemporary design set amidst a seascape. Hidden among the island's vegetation are 10 Beach Bungalows and 27 Beach Retreats, whilst 39 Ocean Retreats with Pool are positioned over the island's lagoon. Three Ocean Suites with Pool provide spacious and luxe accommodation, while the unique Island Residence with Pool offers the ultimate sanctuary, complete with an individual expansive infinity pool overlooking at its very own stretch of the Indian Ocean. The new resort from Universal Resorts will include three restaurants and two bars and is just a 50-minute journey by seaplane from Velana International Airport, or a short flight via Ifuru Domestic Airport.
For more information, visit www.faarufushi.com.

The Nautilus to Open in The Maldives in January 2019
The Nautilus Maldives is set to open on a privately-owned island in the heart of a UNESCO biosphere reserve in January 2019. The new 26-room boutique resort will be reachable from Velana International Airport via a 35-minute seaplane flight and has been designed by a Maldivian entrepreneur with over 30-years' experience in business and resort ownership. Originally thinking about building his dream retreat on the tiny island, The Nautilus has grown to become his personal vision of what the last word in island luxury should be. This philosophy has meant service is driven by the House Captains (butlers), who take care of every detail instead of handing over to receptionists, concierges or excursion guides. Restaurants don't have set opening hours: breakfast can be taken at any time of day – and not even in the restaurant if the guest prefers breakfast in bed or by their pool.
For more information, visit www.thenautilusmaldives.com.

 PARTNER NEWS

LUX* South Ari Atoll Announces Underwater Festival from 16 – 22 September 2018
LUX* Hotels & Resorts will host its sixth annual Underwater Festival from 16 - 22 September, offering guests a unique opportunity to dive deep into the world of marine conservation. The week-long festival welcomes guests to experience an exciting schedule packed with hands-on workshops, open-air film screenings, talks, conferences, and dives in the surrounding reefs - one of the only spots in the world where whale sharks can be seen all year round. Guests can also meet the world's leading conservationists and researchers, take part in underwater drone photography, and above all, learn about what measures are being taken globally to raise awareness, protect earth's largest mammals, and conserve the reefs.
For more information, visit www.luxresorts.com.

International Tourism Film Festival Maldives To Be Held At The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives in September 2018
The second International Tourism Film Festival Maldives will be held at The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives from 6th – 8th September 2018. This year's festival, which has been extended to a three-day event, will show films about interesting and unique places across the world and will shed light on various cultures and histories. Nomination categories this year include Adventure Tourism, Cultural Tourism and an exclusive category for local Maldivian producers. Guests attending the festival will be treated to an opening gala with cocktails on the beach at sunset.
For more information, visit www.itffm.net.

Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa Launches All-Inclusive White Platinum Plan
Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa has launched its new White Platinum Plan. The comprehensive premium all-inclusive package provides guests with meals at the resort's four elegant restaurants, which will serve breakfast buffets, exquisite a la carte dinners and delicious snacks in between. Along with fresh juices and non-alcoholic drinks, the resort offers 70 different wines, and numerous spirits for cocktails. The personal butler, available 24/7 to each guest during their stay, attends to all individual needs and two-day trips are also included in the package.
For more information, visit http://wbapr.de/files/white_platinum_plan_final.pdf.

Kuramathi Maldives Ban Single-Use Plastic Straws and Attains Four TUI Awards
Kuramathi Maldives has banned the use of single-use plastic straws on the island. The eco-friendly resort known for championing environmental awareness has taken the steps to ban single-use plastic straws as part of an ongoing strategy to reduce plastic pollution. The newly introduced paper straws will replace 400,000 plastic straws currently used by the resort each year.

Kuramathi has also become the first resort in the Maldives and one of the few long-haul destinations worldwide to win the TUI Family Award. TUI awarded the resort with four awards in total: TUI Holly, TUI Top Quality Hotel, TUI Umwelt Champion and the TUI Family Award. Winning these categories require key consistency in service levels, along with continuous praise and feedback from travellers who have chosen the resort as their holiday getaway.
For more information, visit www.kuramathi.com.

OZEN by Atmosphere to Open the First Gin Bar in the Maldives
Capitalising on the ongoing British thirst for gin, OZEN by Atmosphere has become the first resort in the Maldives to open a gin bar – aptly named Gin Is In. The bar stocks numerous gins with more than 25 top-of-the-line international brands, incorporating diversely rich herbal, organic and exotic flavours, along with a selection of accompanying tonics that will suit all palettes. Mixing up celebrated brands such as Tanqueray, Hendricks and Monkey 47, the resort's trained professionals with an astute knowledge of the spirit, are on hand to garnish each tipple with the perfect botanical match.
For more information, visit www.ozen-maadhoo.com.

Triple Success for Amilla Fushi And Finolhu At the World Luxury Restaurant Awards 2018
Amilla Fushi and sister resort Finolhu claimed a trio of prestigious accolades at the annual World Luxury Restaurant Awards, held at the Galgorm Resort & Spa in Northern Ireland on 14 July 2018. Amilla Fushi's signature over-water restaurant Feeling Koi was presented with the regional awards for Best Luxury Waterside Restaurant and Best Japanese Cuisine in the Indian Ocean, while Finolhu's award-winning restaurant Kanusan was crowned the Maldives' Best Asian Fusion Restaurant.
For more information about Feeling Koi visit www.amilla.mv/feeling-koi.

For more information about Kanusan visit www.finolhu.com/kanusan.

Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa Hosts Spellbinding Magical Maldives Month
Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa hosted a spellbinding Magical Maldives Month in July 2018. The first of its kind in the Maldives, the resort welcomed five magicians who blew guests' minds away with a range of traditional tricks and more unusual modern illusions and mentalism. Throughout July, magicians performed two shows per week on Villingili's silver sands as well as daily close up magic at guests' dining tables where sleight of hand took centre stage. 
For more information, visit www.shangri-la.com/male/villingiliresort/.

ACTIVE AND ADVENTUROUS TRAVEL PACKAGES

Learn to Surf This Summer at Gili Lankanfushi, From £4,558 Per Couple
Thrill-seekers can embark on a guided surf journey this summer with Gili Lankanfushi's 'Gili Goes Surfing' package. Specifically designed with beginners in mind, the three-day programme will see guests kick off their surf journey with a calm lagoon lesson, learning to master the basics with the help of a professional Tropicsurf instructor. Guests will spend the following two days riding the larger waves at a nearby break with their Tropicsurf instructor on-hand, leaving the resort well on their way to becoming seasoned professionals.

The Gili Goes Surfing package at Gili Lankanfushi starts from £4,558 ($6,000) per couple, to include five nights' accommodation in a Villa Suite, daily breakfast and dinner, meet and greet at the airport, round-trip speedboat transfers and the three-day surf programme (for one person) including a one-hour lagoon lesson and two days guided surfing at the nearby surf break. Surf programme for the second guest starts from £569 ($750). This package is valid until 30th September 2018. For more information or to book, visit www.gili-lankanfushi.com.

Live for Adventure at Angsana Ihuru, From £320 Per Night
Surrounded by one of the most well-preserved coral reefs in the Maldives, Angsana Ihuru's gorgeous turquoise waters, beautiful white beaches and rich green tropical vegetation are the perfect setting for an active escape. Their Live for Adventure package allows guests to make the most of these stunning natural resources; offering unlimited non-motorised watersports (including kayaking, windsurfing and sailing), scuba diving in the coral reefs, a sunset cruise aboard a traditional Maldivian Dhoni, and a night fishing session, after which Angsana Ihuru's gourmet chef will whip up your catch into a delicious dinner. Surf the lagoon, explore the majestic Rannamaari shipwreck, then relax with a cocktail as the sun sets around you.

Angsana Ihuru Live for Adventure is available from £320 per night based on two people sharing. Offer must be booked before 26 October 2018. For more information visit www.angsana.com/en/maldives/ihuru/offers/live-for-adventure.

Book a Healthy Holiday to COMO Maalifushi for Seven-Nights, From £6,200 Per Person
Escape to COMO Maalifushi for a luxurious healthy holiday situated on a lush tropical island of Thaa Atoll, an unspoiled paradise where you can feel the soft white sand between your toes and the cool sea breeze upon your face. Make the most of the warm ocean with water-based activities such as surfing and diving or explore and discover from above the waves. COMO Maalifushi prides itself on integrating the active life into your stay to further improve your well-being, with a fully-equipped gym including the latest strength training equipment and cardio so you can return home feeling restored and re-energised.

Health and Fitness Travel offers seven nights at COMO Maalifushi from £6,998pp. Price is full board, with a sport or adventure programme, return private transfers and return international flights. For more information or to book, call 0203 397 8891 or visit www.healthandfitnesstravel.com.

For further information on the Maldives, visit www.visitmaldives.com.