The Maldives has been nominated as the Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination, whilst The Male’ International Airport has been nominated as the Indian Ocean’s Leading Airport. Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Sri Lanka are competing against Maldives under Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination category. In addition to the above, the following resorts and companies have been nominated:

Indian Ocean’s Leading Boutique Hotel category:

• Cocoa Island, Maldives
• Dhoni Mighili, Maldives
• The Rania Experience, Maldives

Indian Ocean’s Leading Family Resort category:

• Soneva Fushi by Six Senses, Maldives

Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Resort category:

• Angsana Resort & Spa Maldives
• Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru

Indian Ocean’s Leading Hotel category:

• Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
• Soneva Gili by Six Senses, Maldives
• Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives

Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Resort category:

• Baros Maldives
• Huvafen Fushi Maldives

Indian Ocean’s Leading Resort category:

• Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu
• Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
• Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa
• Huvafen Fushi Maldives
• Kurumba Maldives
• Soneva Gili by Six Senses, Maldives
• Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives

Indian Ocean’s Leading Spa Resort category:

• Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
• Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
• Huvafen Fushi Maldives
• Island Hideaway at Dhonakulhi Maldives, Spa Resort & Marina

Indian Ocean’s Leading Travel Agency category:

• Inner Maldives Holidays

Indian Ocean’s Leading Villa category:

• Adaaran “Prestige” Water Villas, Maldives
• Baros Residence, Baros Maldives
• Deluxe Soneva Fushi Villa, Soneva Fushi by Six Senses, Maldives
• Hideaway Palace, Island Hideaway at Dhonakulhi Maldives, Spa Resort & Marina
• Koimala Land and Ocean Villa, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
• Royal Kurumba Residence, Kurumba Maldives

Furthermore the following brands whose resorts are also located in Maldives were nominated under the category “Indian Ocean’s Leading Hotel Brand”:

• Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts
• Four Seasons
• Hilton Hotels
• Hotels Constance
• Naiade Resorts
• One&Only Resorts

In addition to this, the following resort/hotel groups were also nominated under the category “Indian Ocean’s Leading Water Villa Group”:

• Adaaran Prestige Resorts
• Anantara
• Coco Collection
• Constance Hotels
• Taj Hotels
• Universal Resorts

Hailed by the Wall Street Journal as the “Travel industry’s equivalent to the Oscar’s”, the World Travel Awards are the most comprehensive and most prestigious awards program in the global travel industry. The World Travel Awards were established in 1993 to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in the world’s travel and tourism industry. The winners of the World Travel Awards are based on thousands of votes cast by travel professionals from 167,000 travel agencies in over 160 countries across the globe.

The voting for this year’s Indian Ocean Awards is open until 14th August 2009. Votes can be casted by registering and logging into the voting system available at www.worldtravelawards.com.

Last year Maldives won the Indian Ocean’s Leading Destinations Award and World’s Most Romantic Destination awards while Maldives Tourism industry won awards in many categories.

Cabinet members allocated Baa atoll Hanifaru, Baa atoll An’gafaru and Alif Dhaal atoll Maamigili as protected areas to commemorate World Environment Day and World Ocean Day on the 5 and 8 June respectively.

“We welcome the whale shark sanctuaries,” said Ali Rilwan, executive director of environment NGO Bluepeace today. “We don’t need paper parks, we need monitoring and more research in these areas.”

In March, the ministry of fisheries and agricultures extended the moratorium on reef shark fishing to cover the whole of the Maldives as part of a move towards a total ban on both reef and oceanic shark hunting.

Speaking to Minivan News today, Ibrahim Naeem, director of the environment ministry, said the main objective of the project was to protect the areas’ megafauna, namely whale sharks.

He explained the areas will be divided into various zones, in which different activities will be permitted. While diving and snorkelling would still be allowed, a set of guidelines would be provided to instruct on how to deal with encounters with whale sharks.

Further, boats will be subject to speed limits in certain areas, he said.

Naeem said the reaction of local residents was “very positive”. “They actively wanted this to happen and this won’t impact any of their activities so they have nothing to lose from this,” he said. “That’s the findings of the consultation.”

He added the decision would have a “global significance” and the areas were among the few in the world where whale sharks could be spotted.

The polka-dotted whale shark is the largest fish on the planet, but very little is known about their existence, according to the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme’s website.

While it is known they swim potentially vast distances across the ocean, eating only plankton, tiny fish and squid, how long they live or where they reproduce remains a mystery.

Guy Stevens, a marine biologist at Four Seasons Resort, said it was crucial to establish a set of guidelines to counter the impact that the growth of tourism would have on whale sharks in future years.

At present, it is estimated that whale shark excursions generate US$10 million annually.

According to Stevens, researchers have spotted 115 whale sharks in the Maldives, although the real number was probably higher.

“Some of these areas are important feeding grounds,” said Stevens. “And out of all of them, there are only two females, so the animals are only spending part of their lives here.”

He added the designated areas would also protect other animal species such as manta rays in Hanifaru and reef sharks in An’gafaru.

As part of its efforts to mark World Environment Day and World Ocean Day over the coming week, the government will also be introducing seven awards in recognition of efforts to go carbon neutral and launch two campaigns: “Walk to School” and “Back to Bicycle”.

NGO Bluepeace will be also hold an event to celebrate World Environment Day this Friday: a beach clean-up at Hulhumale’.

These routes will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft with a three-class configuration: World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club World.

Richard Tams, British Airways’ head of UK & Ireland sales, said: “These new routes will be great assets to the BA network and a real winner with customers. They are both perfect holiday destinations, known for their great beaches and fantastic diving. We’re particularly pleased to be serving a completely new destination, the Maldives and returning to Sharm El Sheikh. We expect both routes to perform well.”

A wide range of good value hotels from independent properties to luxury five-star resorts in both the Maldives and Sharm el Sheikh will be available to book on ba.com giving further choice and flexibility to all holidaymakers.

Judy Jarvis, British Airways’ regional commercial manager, South Asia, said: “It gives me great pleasure to announce the start of non-stop flights from Male to the UK. The Maldives offers sunny beaches and unspoilt lagoons, a perfect combination for the ideal tropical holiday destination. I am confident that it will be very popular with our customers.”

Lead-in fares from Gatwick to Male will start from £629 return including taxes, fees and charges. Flights to the Maldives will depart from Gatwick on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday at 7:10pm returning from Male’ on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 1:20pm local time.

Tickets will be on sale from Friday May 29, 2009 through ba.com and direct through BA reservations on 0844 493 0787.

Country Brand Index is a comprehensive study of approximately 2,700 international business and leisure travellers from nine countries. It is conducted by FutureBrand, a global brand consultancy company and Weber Shandwick which is a public relations firm.

The main marketing slogan for the destination Maldives is “Maldives…the Sunny Side of Life”. The wellness and relaxation aspect is promoted under the theme of “Maldives…the Spiritual Side of Life”. Maldives was ranked number one in these two areas. Maldives emerged as the number one in both Beach and Rest and Relaxation categories after successfully competing with countries like Tahiti, Bahamas and Australia.

Maldives also won the ‘World’s Most Romantic Destination‘ award at the WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS last year.

Source: visitmaldives.com

It is the first time that MTPB has organized a road show targeting the South East Asian market. The main objectives of these road shows are to diversify further into the South East Asian market and also try new ways of promoting the Maldives as a destination for visitors from this region.

The Maldives won the title of the World’s Most Romantic Destination at the World Travel Awards 2007.

Luxury resorts, award winning spa’s and some of the best snorkeling, fishing and scuba diving in the world, the Maldives offers a unique holiday experience to visitors.

Last year Maldives welcomed a total of 675,889 visitors. The Asian market represents 144,363 visitors a market share of 23.3%.

In Singapore, booth exhibitions and presentations will be set up at the Singapore Art Museum – The Glass Hall, to update industry guests on the latest development about this unique tropical holiday destination. Participating partners include the Adaaran Group, The Regent Maldives, and Dhoni Stella Private Yachts.

Source: www.asiatraveltips.com