By Rama Gaind.
Maldives is renowned for its luxurious resorts with impeccable amenities, personalised service and boundless beauty like no other.
Explore the sunny side of life as you venture to the middle of the Indian Ocean to experience the best of what the Maldives has on offer. Since it reopened its borders (after they closed in late March 2020 following the COVID-19 outbreak), this picture-perfect archipelago has commenced safe tourism for international tourists.
Celebrated as one of the most picturesque travel destinations in the world, the Maldives is home to more than 1,190 tiny coral islands – different in their own unique ways. It evokes idyllic images of over-water bungalows and pristine beaches. So why not make the best of it?
The Maldives offers a host of facilities and opportunities to fuel your sense of excitement to help you rediscover the fun side of life. It is 99 per cent water and just one per cent land. As one might expect, the thrills of the Maldives lie on, under or over the surface of the water.
Take the time to discover the colourful side of life. The Maldives is blessed with about five per cent of the global reef area, and 250 species of coral teeming with over 1,000 species of fish.
The Maldives epitomises luxury and romance.
Discover the spiritual side of life where a spa is, let’s say, more than just a spa. It’s a memorable experience. No matter where you stay, you can’t help but get caught up in the romantic side of life. Love is in the air, wherever you are.
The geography of Maldives alone is something one would not get tired of observing. The archipelago is made up of 26 atolls, rings formed of islands and reefs of varying shapes, depths and sizes that present hues of blue, turquoise to indigo.
Visit any one of the country’s 200 inhabited islands and observe a distinctive lifestyle, shaped over millennia, by the unique make-up of the tiny islands they inhabit and the seas that surrounds them.
Experience the relaxed attitude and style of islanders, which modernisation has found impossible to change. Stroll on the beach, engage with the locals and get an insight into their lives.
Rediscover initiative
An intensive tourism campaign has been underway to celebrate the reopening of the Maldivian borders to all nationalities. Titled ‘Rediscover Maldives … the sunny side of life’.
The accommodation options are original in the Maldives.
The managing director of the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) Mr. Thoyyib Mohamed, has spoken about how the government and private sector have been working hard to ensure safety and hygiene standards for travellers in the new normal. He also highlighted that the Maldives is fully prepared to welcome back tourists and that the safety of tourists and resort staff is the top priority.
Support also comes from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid, who said responding to COVID-19 had been tough, but “we have come back stronger as a destination, with the Maldives being a safe destination for all tourists and hotel employees”.
The Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has a newly announced target of 850, 000 visitors by the end of 2020. The many initiatives to promote the destination can only auger well for visitors.
For first-timers, travelling to the country will be very exciting but at the same time, there is so much more to look forward to and understand beyond the exotic lifestyles.
The Maldives are known for their natural environment including the blue ocean, white beaches and clean air. The climate of the Maldives is ideal for visitors to get engaged in water sports such as swimming, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling and water-skiing.
The Maldives is a picture-perfect archipelago, situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Not just known for its snorkeling and scuba diving, it also ranks highly as one of the world’s top dolphin destinations. Take the time to dive to reefs and meet sea creatures and even catch a wave in the Maldives! Most of the renowned surf breaks are located around Male. It also ranks highly as one of the world’s top dolphin destinations. Dolphins are everywhere in the Maldives.
Moreover, there are excursions, fishing trips and you can also visit nearby lagoons and sandbanks for a magical dose of serenity and privacy. The possibilities are endless. Don’t want to spend all your time at a resort in the Maldives? Boat cruises are a popular thing to do, with various options from sunset cruises in local ‘dhonis’ to longer overnight and multi-day luxury yacht cruises. Perhaps, travel by speed boat or seaplane.
There are a lot of accommodation options to choose from since the country is filled with gorgeous resorts, hotels, guest houses and liveaboards catering to a variety of travellers.
For many of us, obtaining a pre-arrival visa seems to be a hassle especially when you have to travel abroad to obtain it. In the Maldives, it is not required; a 30-day visa is issued on arrival for all nationalities, but make sure your passport has at least six months validity remaining and that you have a valid ticket to return home. However, with current safety precautions in place, a health declaration card will be required as per the procedure.
DETAILS BOX
The Maldives
W: https://visitmaldives.com/en
