Award | Lily Beach Defends Title of Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resort in the Maldives by Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2021

Lily Beach Defends Title of Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resort in the Maldives by Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2021

Lily Beach Resort & Spa has been crowned yet again by Luxury Lifestyle Awards in 2021 in the category of ‘The Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resorts in the Maldives’. The award recognises Lily Beach’s excellent all-inclusive Platinum Plan, its unrivalled friendly service culture, and the property’s overall experience offering something for everyone, whether it be for families or for couples.

Luxury Lifestyle Awards is designed to reward the travel industry elite for excellence in a number of categories. The annual awards programme aims to connect people with the best of luxury. They evaluate more than 10,000 goods and services in 400 categories from 60 countries to give travellers a list of the best of the best in the world.

Lily Beach Resort & Spa is a winner of multiple international awards and recognitions. These accolades are a testament to the resort’s continued commitment to providing an excellent 5-star service to guests. Likewise, this is an encouragement for the Lily Beach team to keep delivering an outstanding experience.

“On behalf of the whole team at Lily Beach Resort & Spa, we would like to wholeheartedly thank our guests for choosing us for their stay in the Maldives and for being fans of our Platinum Plan,” says the resort’s Group Director of Sales & Marketing, Mr. Desislav Gospodinov. 

Located on a private island of Huvahendhoo in South Ari Atoll, Lily Beach Resort & Spa is recognised as a leading 5-star All-Inclusive resort in the Maldives and in the world. The resort features its own unique and elevated concept of unpretentious luxury with its generous all-inclusive plan. The plan includes far more than the traditional package of cocktails, premium brands, champagne, and international culinary delights. It adds value with its complementary activities such as one group yoga session with a Yoga Expert, and up to three excursions, which can be selected from fun options such as sunset cruise, fishing trip, and coral garden snorkelling.

Good Food and Enjoyable Activities are the main pillars of the resort. In terms of dining, Lily Beach continues to reinvent culinary offerings to stay abreast of trends in dining experiences, beverages, and presentations – especially with its renowned buffet restaurant: Lily Maa. Rejuvenating therapies are offered at the resort’s picturesque over-water spa pavilions at Tamara Spa and a bevvy of recreation activities are available at the resort to be active after all that dining. These experiences include weight training and cardio at the gym or having a leisurely game of football or tennis. Additionally, the resort also provides snorkelling equipment and has a beautiful house reef and nearby access to more than 50 awesome dive sites just a stone’s throw away from the resort’s vicinity. All these experiences and more await at the at Lily Beach Resort & Spa, only a short 25-minute seaplane journey from Velana International Airport.

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Visit Maldives | When is the best time to visit Maldives?

The Maldives are a string of coral atolls in the Indian Ocean, famous its combo of sheer barefoot luxury and guilt-free sustainability. Add to that a warm climate where temperatures rarely drop much below the 80s. Humidity is high (80 per cent) but this is tempered by a sea breeze especially at night.

You can expect pristinely kept beaches and turquoise lagoons with water that sparkles in the bright sunshine. You’ll get to experience private-island resorts, bungalows that seem to float over the water, underwater restaurants and infinity pools.

Another bonus is that sea temperatures hover between a very comfortable 26°C and 29°C year-round.

So, when is the best time to go?

The Maldives has a long window of great weather during November through to April. It’s unrelentingly warm and tropical with 29°C to 31°C year-round and average lows rarely falling below 24°C. 

January to April Peak Season

To avoid short sharp flash rains get there between January and April as these are generally the driest months and for some, the low humidity is a blessing. It is the perfect time for a beach holiday and as the visibility is great at this time for divers and snorkellers. 

However, bear in mind that this is peak time and the time when tourists tend to flock there.

May to September Warm but little Rain

It’s still warm during the four months between May and September but there may be storms in between long spells of sunny weather. These peak around June. Rain showers are usually short and it won’t be long until the sun shines through the clouds and dries everything up.

If you like snorkeling bear in mind that at this time plankton forms and visibility is diminished. The bonus is that if you don’t mind the risk of rain prices are lower.

October to November – the best time for shark spotting

These months offer warm temperatures and long periods of sunshine but with an increased chance of rain and storms. Still, it is during October and November when you are most likely to see whale sharks and manta rays, which come to feed on the plankton. This may also be when there are the best travel deals.

December – grab a discount

The weather is similar to the previous two months and deals are good just before Christmas – another peak period.

TIP: To complicate things, the northern atolls have the highest rainfall from May to November; the southern atolls are from November to March. There really isn’t much to do when it rains except read or drink or perhaps scuba dive, but maybe that’s ok.

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Visit Maldives | TOURIST ARRIVAL NUMBERS EXCEED 200,000 SO FAR IN 2021

According to data published by the Ministry of Tourism, The Maldives has welcomed a total of 200,871 tourists so far this year, as of 4th March 2021.

The top source market remains as India, with an arrival figure of 46,541. India is followed closely by Russia with 42,417 tourist arrivals. The third and fourth top source market is Ukraine and Kazakhstan, with a recorded 13,350 arrivals and 8,537 arrivals respectively.

According to the Ministry, The Maldives must maintain an average of 4000 daily arrivals throughout the year or experience a significant influx of tourists during holiday periods in order to reach the set target of 1.5 million tourists in 2021.

At present, 148 resorts and 364 guesthouses are known to be fully operational in Maldives.

Maldives reopened borders to all nationalities from 15th July 2020. All visitors are granted a 30-day free on-arrival visa with a confirmed booking for a stay at any registered tourist facility in the country.

While there is no mandatory quarantine or testing on arrival, tourists traveling to Maldives are required to complete an online health declaration form and provide a negative PCR test result taken at least 96 hours prior to their departure. The negative PCR test result must be attached while completing Traveler Health Declaration form, which has to be submitted online via IMUGA (www.imuga.immigration.gov.mv), by all arriving passengers before arrival (but not exceeding 24 hours before arrival time).

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Visit Maldives | 8,800 WORKERS IN THE MALDIVES TOURISM INDUSTRY VACCINATED

According to information published by the Ministry of Tourism, over 8,800 of frontline workers in the tourism industry have been vaccinated. The Ministry states that the number of vaccinated frontline workers represents over 30% of all workers within the tourism industry.

The Tourism Ministry and HPA started vaccination drives in resorts on 14th February 2021. The first vaccination center in a resort opened in Bandos Island Resort & Spa. The government prioritized 10,000 doses from the first shipment of vaccination doses for the frontline workers in the tourism industry. The priority is set not only for resort workers, but also includes workers in guesthouses, liveaboards, and airport representatives.

Over 137,120 people have received the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, produced by the Serum Institute of India under the name ‘COVISHIELD’.

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Visit Maldives | CSMIA expands its Maldives reach with Mumbai-Male direct flights

Since the commencement of the air bubble arrangement with Maldives on August 13, 2020, CSMIA has seen a rise in passenger traffic catering to over 56000 passengers across an approximate total of 410 flights to and from CSMIA till date.

Witnessing a steady increase in passenger traffic from Mumbai to the Maldives, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) is expanding its existing reach to Male, by adding a new flight operated by Vistara, from March 3, 2021 onwards.

Since the resurgence in air travel and ease in travel restrictions, Maldives has emerged as a preferred destination for passengers traveling from Mumbai. CSMIA has been working diligently to foster accessibility and profound connectivity to the destination while offering best-in-class facilities and services to travelers.

Since the commencement of the air bubble arrangement with the Maldives on August 13, 2020, CSMIA has seen a rise in passenger traffic catering to over 56000 passengers across an approximate total of 410 flights to and from CSMIA to date.

During this period, the airport had catered to the region through Indigo and GoAir, wherein Indigo catered to the highest passenger traffic, with over 32000 passengers from the airport. The increase in frequency to the destination through the addition of the new Vistara flight with effect from March 3, 2021 comes as a boon to travelers from and around Mumbai.

The ease in travel restrictions has made the Maldives a preferred destination amongst leisure travelers. Through the added frequency between Mumbai and Maldives, CSMIA provides passengers with easy accessibility to the region even for a short weekend trip.

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Visit Maldives | The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands Opens

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands Set to open June 1, 2021, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands invites guests to embrace island life from the moment they arrive on its white-sand shores. Guests will be able to absorb a plethora of Maldivian culture and traditions, whether they are relaxing in their luxury overwater villa, watching the sunset from the sandy shore, or sipping an afternoon tea on property.

Upon arrival at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, guests are greeted by The Island Caller. To signal their arrivals, the Caller will blow the traditional Maldivian Sangu shell, also more commonly known as Triton’s Trumpet. The shell signifies an important piece of the Maldivian culture, as they were mostly used in the region by quiet island villages to share warnings or signal public gatherings, as the sound of the Sangu can be heard across the island.

As guests check in to the resort, they may notice many circular shapes and structures around the property. The resort encourages guests to embrace the cyclical nature of island life through distinct choices in architecture as well as in-room amenities. Each villa includes an artfully crafted Beru, or drum, which coincides with the evening Bodu Beru, an indigenous form of dance and music with drums - made locally from coconut wood on the island - and one of the oldest surviving traditions dating back to the 11th century. This sunset ritual at the resort’s Eau Bar is unique to the property and allows guests to reflect on a day full of discoveries, while transitioning into an evening of relaxation, indulgence and reflection.

Guests of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands will each have an Aris Meeha, or island butler, a concept inspired by the royal courts of the ancient Maldives. In Dhivehi, the local language,

Aris Meeha refers to a person who is assigned to a royal member, one of the most important positions among the many titles and rankings in a Maldivian Royal household. Similar to a modern-day butler, Aris Meeha fulfills every detail of the life of a royal and considered to be the closest confidant much like a Gentleman's gentleman or Lady in waiting or Gentlemen or Lady of the Chamber. (The concept also relates to The Ritz-Carlton’s brand motto of ‘We are Ladies & Gentlemen serving Ladies & Gentlemen’).

Once guests have eased into the pace of island life, they can focus on being present and together. The resort offers a traditional afternoon tea that is perfect for connecting and sharing the day’s discoveries with one another and planning for the evening ahead. Guests can enjoy their afternoon tea by the pool at Eau Bar, where the contemporary version of this ceremonial tea is based on Maldivian Hedhika and focused on providing local, light bites to guests. Shaping the country and culture, the Maldives lies in the old maritime spice route, and as such, the resort’s signature cocktail selection is inspired by the archipelago’s favorite five spices: cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, cumin, and turmeric.

In an effort to reduce import footprints, guests of the resort will enjoy sustainably caught fish from local fishermen, fresh vegetables, and herbs cultivated from the resort’s organic garden. Guests also have the option of participating in Maldivian cooking classes to the art of making Mashuni, a breakfast staple in the island nation, made with tuna and fresh coconut.

As guests of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands continue to explore the resort and its surrounding areas, they may find themselves at The Marina at Fari Islands, which is built around the vibrant Fari Beach Club, high-end boutiques, a selection of upscale restaurants, an art studio, and Fari Lagoon Coral Adoption & Marine Biology Center. With around-the-clock boat transfers courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, guests are welcomed with an array of meaningful experiences during their stay. This archipelago redefines the Maldivian experience, allowing guests of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands to experience a balance of cosmopolitan and private island life never before seen in the region.

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"VISIT MALDIVES" HOSTS TOP JOURNALISTS FROM INDIA MARKET

Visit Maldives hosts key journalists from the Indian market to promote the Maldives as a safe haven for travelers and to showcase the unique experiences that are available in the Maldives to the Indian audience. This is the first media familiarization trip from the Indian market this year, as part of the current marketing activities to keep the destination presence across pan India. The journalist will stay in the Maldives from 21st to 26th February 2021.

The top media team consists of editors and senior correspondents from The Pioneer, Sunday Guardian, ET Travel World, TMM Magazine and Sputnik News which has a huge readership and circulation base in the Indian market.

The team is hosted by Kagi Maldives and Emerald Maldives. Journalists will experience signature cuisines, wellness & spa offerings that are unique to each property, along with fishing and watersports activities. These experiences will be covered and published by the individual journalists, and properties will benefit from a wide range of media coverage.

As India is the second-largest market in terms of arrivals to the Maldives, Visit Maldives is continuously conducting various marketing activities to maintain destination presence and promote the Maldives as a safe haven for Indian travelers. Apart from the familiarization trips, several high-impact campaigns on both offline and online platforms are in the pipeline such as participating in travel trade fairs, educational webinars, and roadshows. Along with great connectivity from India, Visit Maldives aims to increase the arrivals from the Indian market to pre pre-pandemic level with high-impact promotional activities.

Furthermore, the tourism industry is recovering gradually, on 14th February 2021, Maldives recorded a total of 4,856 tourist arrivals in a single day. Additionally, to ensure the safety of all tourists and the citizens, Maldives has commenced the COVID-19 vaccination program and it is anticipated that the COVID-19 cases will decrease gradually, in turn increasing the confidence travelers have in the Maldives.

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NEWS | Maldives eyes tourism growth with packed 2021 events calendar

The Maldives, unfazed by the Covid-19 pandemic that has wreaked havoc on the travel industry, is planning to promote the destination aggressively at overseas trade exhibitions and roadshows through the year.

Initially, the NTO is preparing to participate at trade events and roadshows in Russia and India next month said Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) managing director Thoyyib Mohamed.

The Maldives drives up promotions with planned participation in more than 40 events this year

The MITT trade show in Moscow, a B2B and B2C event, will take place from March 16-18; coinciding with roadshows in Moscow, Kazakhstan, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. Meanwhile, India’s South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange will be held on March 22 along with a roadshow.

There are no quarantine requirements for incoming travelers in both Russia and India, apart from having to furnish a negative Covid-19 PCR report on arrival – the same rule applied for arrivals in the Maldives, said Mohamed.

Since reopening its borders on July 15, 2020 after a four-month pandemic closure, the Maldives has seen a steady climb in tourist arrivals which peaked in December, with the island recording more than 96,000 arrivals – a 170 percent increase – during the month.

Tourist arrivals this year from January to February 12 totaled 129,507, as compared to 233,974 in the same 2020 period; while arrivals for the shortened 2020 year was 555,494, as compared to 1.7 million in 2019. This year’s tourist arrival target is set at 1.2 million.

This year, Russia, India, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Romania are the top source markets; while in 2020, India led the way followed by Russia, Italy, the UK, and Germany. Meanwhile, China, for years the Maldives’ biggest generating market, was in sixth place largely due to outbound travel restrictions.

Suresh Dissanayake, assistant vice president – sales & marketing, Heritance Aarah, Adaaran Resorts, said arrivals were steadily picking up and they expect a better season than in 2020. “We also hope to take part in some of the overseas exhibitions,” he added.

According to MMPRC’s fairs, roadshows and events calendar for 2021, the NTO will be participating in more than 40 events in the US, China, India, Russia, Italy, the Middle East, Spain, Poland, Thailand, Singapore, South Africa, the Philippines, Malaysia, France, Australia, Japan and Brazil.

As of February 13, the Maldives recorded 17,716 Covid-19 cases and 58 related deaths. Unlike most countries, tourism is flourishing in the Maldives during the pandemic period as all the tourist resorts are situated on isolated islands distant from the capital city, Male – also an island – where most of the infections and deaths have occurred.

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