Chongqing Airlines of China will operate three weekly flights to Malè, which started its operations on 8th January 2025. With a layover in Colombo, the three services run on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The itinerary is Malè-Colombo-Chongqing, with simple connections to other carriers. The planned three-weekly flights between Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport and Velana International…
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) for the 2024 – 2025 term was held on 26th January 2025. A new executive board was chosen at the meeting to supervise the association’s operations and projects. The elected board members are: Abdulla Ghiyas Riyaz, President Mohamed Khaleel,…
With the debut of the Airbus A330-200, Maldivian, the Maldives’ national airline, has begun its first wide-body flights. The airline, which started out in 2000 with a small fleet of two aircraft, has expanded significantly since reaching this historic milestone. Along with Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef, a number of government dignitaries, and senior officials,…
A unique and significant occasion to Ellaidhoo Maldives occurred on the first morning of the new year. Three small turtles broke out of their shells on the island’s coastlines and followed their instincts to the Indian Ocean. This occasion, which marked the beginning of the year with a special connection to nature, was witnessed by…
Nominations for the Hotelier Maldives Awards 2025, hosted by BestBuy Maldives (BBM), are now officially open, according to Hotelier Maldives. This important event, which is scheduled for May 2025, builds on the success of its initial edition in April 2024. Four new categories will be added to the 2019 awards, expanding the recognition of exceptional…
The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/Visit Maldives) has formally launched the “World’s Biggest Giveaway,” their biggest worldwide promotion for 2025. This year-long program, which was unveiled on November 5, 2024, at World Travel Mart (WTM) in London, would give out 52 free holidays, one for every week in 2025, beginning on 1st January…
Building on the remarkable momentum of 2024, a record-breaking year for the Maldives tourist industry, the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/Visit Maldives) has stated that the Maldives has set an ambitious aim of $5 billion in tourism receipts for 2025. At a press conference held at MMPRC offices on 29th December 2024, MMPRC…
On 25th December 2024, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development announced a further financing of Dh147 million ($40 million) to help the Maldives’ Velana International Airport (VIA) project be completed. This comes after a Dh183.5 million ($50 million) loan was given in 2017 for the project’s early stages, underscoring the airport’s critical role in promoting…
With the arrival of the 2 millionth visitor, Maldives 2024 has achieved yet another significant milestone in the history of our tourism industry, according to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/Visit Maldives). Austrian national Astrid Dirnegger officially met the goal set by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu for the year when she arrived in…
With the opening of direct flights to China in 2025, Maldivian is set to make a substantial contribution to the Maldives’ tourism industry. Beginning in early 2025, the airline will offer flights to Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, three important Chinese cities, using its new wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The additional flights are anticipated to transport…