The Maldives has been crowned as the World’s Leading Destination at the 2023 World Travel Awards.

The 2023 WTA Grand Finale was held at Dubai’s most iconic hotel, the Burj Al Arab, on Friday evening.

It marks the fourth consecutive year for the Maldives to receive the prestigious award, amidst fierce competition from 17 acclaimed global destinations, including Dubai, Indonesia, New Zealand, Spain, and Vietnam.

In a statement announcing the accomplishment, Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) said the award further solidifies the Maldives’ consistent excellence and unmatched charm that distinguishes it as the top destination in the world.

In addition to securing The World’s Leading Destination title, MMPRC was honored as the 2023 World’s Leading Tourist Board, marking the second consecutive year winning the prestigious title.

Meanwhile, Thoyyib Mohamed, MMPRC’s former CEO, received the Special Achievement Award.

Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, the former Maldivian tourism minister, won the title of 2023 Travel Personality of the Year, for his contributions to the travel and tourism industry.

In an interview to Travel News Network, Mausoom dedicated his award to all tourism stakeholders, in the Maldives and abroad.

Meanwhile, the Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) won the title of 2023 World’s Leading Seaplane Operator – marking the seventh consecutive time, and the ninth time overall, that the TMA has won this prestigious title.

The Maldives also received the newly-introduced Global Tourism Resilience Award at the event, given to the five leading destinations and countries for strategically building capacity to recover swiftly and thrive after disruptions.

The Maldives was also nominated as the 2023 World’s Leading Beach Destination, World’s Leading Dive Destination, World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination, World’s Leading Island Destination, and World’s Most Romantic Destination.

MMPRC said the wins are testament to the Maldives’ exceptional standing in the global tourism landscape and the enduring appeal of the Sunny Side of Life to travelers worldwide.

“This exceptional fourth consecutive win reaffirms the Maldives’ commitment to delivering unparalleled experiences, and we extend our gratitude to our visitors, industry partners, and stakeholders whose steadfast support has been pivotal in achieving this milestone,” said the tourism board.

The WTA, established in 1993, is the most prestigious honors program in the global travel and tourism industry, recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.

Source(s): sun.mv

Manta Air has announced its decision to launch direct flights from Dhaalu Airport in Kudahuvadhoo to India’s Bangalore.

The airlines, in a statement on Wednesday, said direct flights between Kudahuvadhoo Airport and Bangalore’s Kempegowda International Airport will be commencing next January.

As per the airline, the launch of the direct flights will allow Indian tourists to avoid the hassles and additional expense of transiting through the main Velana International Airport and gaining direct access to many luxury resorts located in Dhaalu Atoll.

Dhaalu Atoll hosts some of country’s best resorts such as Kandima Maldives, Niyama Private Islands, St. Regis Maldives, RIU, Baglioni, Angsana Velavaru, and Sun Siyam Iru Veli.

Manta Air’s CEO Mohamed Khaleel said the launch of direct flights between Dhaalu Atoll and Bangalore marks a pivotal moment for the airline as it progresses from being the leading domestic and seaplane carrier in the Maldives to an international airline operator.

“This strategic move aims to enhance the guest experience and boost bookings for resorts in Dhaalu atoll, particularly Kandima, RIU Hotel, and Niyama Private Island, which are all located in close proximity to the airport. By facilitating easier and more affordable travel access to the Maldives, we foresee a substantial increase in travel demand from Bengaluru and across India in 2024 and beyond,” he added.

Manta Air commenced operations in February 2019 as a domestic carrier. The upcoming launch of direct flights between Dhaalu Atoll and Bangalore will mark the first time the airline is commencing operations to a foreign nation.

Source(s): sun.mv

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has decided to list whale sharks as a protected species in the Maldives under the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act.

The decision was made following cabinet recommendations and deliberations on a paper presented during Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.

Whale sharks were previously designated as a protected species under the Fisheries Act.

The cabinet paper proposed that the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act would provide the most effective framework for the conservation and management of whale sharks instead, following the observation that the Maldivian fishing industry nor fishing industries worldwide regarded whale sharks as a viable fishery species.

The paper also highlighted the Maldives’ conservation challenges for whale sharks and their ecosystem.

The Cabinet paper additionally emphasized how the conservation and management of whale sharks under the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act would safeguard the species’ habitat and overcome conservation obstacles.

The paper also noted prospective environmental, social, and economic benefits.

As of July 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified whale sharks as an endangered species on its red list.

Source(s): sun.mv