MALDIVES STANDS OUT AT THE SEVEN STAR GLOBAL LUXURY AWARDS

Maldives is nominated for the “Seven Star Destination Winner” at the prestigious Seven Star Global Luxury Awards.   

The Seven Star Luxury Awards is the highest, most exclusive award for the pinnacle in hospitality and lifestyle.  The Seven Star Global Luxury Awards not only recognise, but also set apart the extraordinary achievements in the Hospitality and Lifestyle sectors by bestowing upon them the Signum Virtutis – the seal of excellence.  The Seven Star Global Luxury Awards, by the bestowing of the Signum Virtutis, serves as a guarantee to the luxury consumer that the recipients are truly the best in the industry.  This is and will remain a very exclusive club as only the pinnacle of Luxury enters the ranks of the Seven Star Global Luxury Awards.

The Seven Star Global Luxury Awards Ceremony will be held at the Villa Padierna Palace Hotel, Marbella, Spain on 28th June 2013.  

There were 21 competing destinations nominated for the awards along with the Maldives.  They are Abu Dhabi, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Dubai, Fiji, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Jamaica, Mauritius, Mexico, Peru, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, St Lucia, Turkey and Turks & Caicos

Being nominated and winning high accolades of this nature indicate the visitors’ love and confidence towards the Maldives and will enhance the product image in terms of a high profile luxury destination.

=Photo and News Taken From http://www.visitmaldives.com/en/news_posts/419

JENNIFER HAWKINS AND JAKE WALL'S HONEYMOON IN MALDIVES

 "Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall in Maldives. Since their June 4 wedding in Indonesian island of Bali, the newlyweds have luxuriated themselves in Paris as well. PHOTO/ JENNIFER'S INSTAGRAM" =Haveeru Online=

Australian beauty queen and Miss Universe 2004 Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall are spending their honeymoon in Maldives.

Since their June 4 wedding in Indonesian island of Bali, the newlyweds have luxuriated themselves in Paris and now the Maldives. The loved-up couple has been regularly updating their Twitter and Instagram with photos of their epic globetrotting trip.

They met just prior to Hawkins winning the Miss Universe pageant and the two continued their relationship following her return to Australia after her year based in New York

=Ali Naafiz, Haveeru Online=

SOME USEFUL INFORMATION FOR TOURIST

Visa Information  

No prior visa is required to enter the Republic of Maldives. A 30-day visitor permit will be granted upon arrival with the presentation of the following:

Possession of a valid passport for at least six months

Possession of a valid return air ticket to destination where the passenger has permission to enter, together with necessary visas for the onward journey to the next destination.

Customs

The import of firearms, liquor, drugs, pornographic materials and idols of worship are prohibited.

Language

Languages spoken are Dhivehi and English, and the resort has multi-lingual staff as well.

Weather

The Maldives has an equatorial climate, with two main seasons. December to May is light and fairly dry. June to November occasionally brings brief rain showers followed by sunshine. The temperature ranges from mid-20s to mid-30s centigrade (77 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit) and is highest in April and May.

                                           100 Rufiyaa

Currency

Local currency is the Maldivian rufiyaa. Although all billings are made in US dollars, most other foreign currencies can be exchanged at the resort. Please note, however, that the Maldavian rufiyaa cannot be exchanged for any other currency.

Information Taken from One & Only Reethi Rah Island Resort website

AN UNFORGETTABLE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE

Cruising along the aquamarine waters from atoll to atoll is an unforgettable holiday experience. Boats with bunk-beds or private cabins can accommodate anywhere between eight to twenty passengers for such island-hopping trips, normally lasting ten to fifteen days. The central atolls of north and south Male', Vaavu and Alifu are usually the most frequented since services are readily available for tourists. these atolls also have some of the best surfing and diving spots Maldives has to offer. Aboard the yacht, the crew is highly professional.

The resident cook dishes out for you excellent seafood recipes. Dining under a clear, star-studded night sky in the Maldives is indeed an experience in itself. An excursion to a fishing village or an uninhabited island should make your holiday cruise more worth while. Some resorts also have glass-bottomed boats and catamarans for hire. Parsasailing on multicolored parachutes over the warm waters of Indian Ocean is an incredible experience. Water sausages as and water scooters also make interesting rides. Besides these, equipment's for beach volleyball, football, lawn tennis and indoor games such as badminton, table tennis, billiards and chess are usually available free of charge in many of the resort islands.

PLACES OF INTEREST 3

                                           Photo: Sultan Park & Museum

Sultan Park and the National Museum

Maldives changed from a Republic to a Sultanate and back to a Republic in a span of just 16 years (1953 to 1968). The Sultan's Palace however was demolished except for a three-story building and the palace grounds were turned into a public park known as the Sultan Park. The surviving palace building within the park is today today the National Museum.

Opened on November 19, 1952, the National museum displays a large and varied collection of a glorious bygone era including stone objects from the pre-Islamic period; royal antiquities like thrones, palanquins, costume, coins, and ornaments, arms and amours. Two of the most significant items on display are the coral stone head of Lord Buddha and a wooden panel erected in the Hukuru Miskiiy. Timings: 9 AM - 3 PM. Closed on Fridays and public holidays.

                                              Photo: Artificial Beach 

Artificial Beach

Despite so many beautiful beaches in Maldives, the capital is not blessed in this respect. Today the people of Male' can enjoy a good swim at artificial beach. this is a popular place for parents who take their kids for some fresh air and space to enjoy. Today it is not only a popular place for swimmers, but a variety of sports, games shows and other events such as live music shows as well. On a regular day, it is a place for swimmers, children, parents and active sportsman. On special occasions, it is a place for get together, music shows, carnivals, parades and you name it. On Fridays the beach is quite packed, so consider this fact before getting there for a swim. 

PLACES OF INTEREST 2

                                          Photo: Mulee-aage

Mulee-aage

Mulee-aage, the former presidential palace, was originally built by Sultan Shamsuddeen III for his son just before the first world war. Soon after banishment of the sultan and his son in May 1936, the house was declared a government property.

The Mulee-aage was officially and used as an office complex by subsequent governments. After the country becomes Republic in 1953, the Mulee-aage became the 'President Official Residence'. However in 1986, the house was renamed the 'Presidential Palace' and was upgraded to hold official functions and to accommodate visiting Heads of States and other foreign dignitaries. 

                                           Photo: Islamic Center

                                           

The Islamic Center 

Male's most famous architectural landmark is the three-story Islamic center, opened in November 1984. The center's Grand Friday Mosque, Masjid-al-Sultan Mohammed Thakurufaanu-al-A'z'am is the biggest in the Maldives, accommodating more than 5,000 Worshippers. The shining golden dome of the mosque is a standout as are also the interior walls decorated with beautiful woodcarvings and Arabic calligraphy. The center also house a library and a conference hall.

PLACES OF INTEREST 1

                                                             Photo: the hukuru miskiiy

Hukuru Miskiiy

The Hukuru Miskiiy or the old Friday Mosque, was built in 1656 during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar 1. The interior and exterior walls of this historic mosque, built with coral shores, are intricately curved with Arabic writings and ornamental patters. the roof, window frames, and doors are made of different types of wood including teak, red sandalwood, and redwood. there is an abundance of beautiful coral carvings and expert lacquer work inside the mosque, the latter being most conspicuous in the laage, or domes, built as part of the ceiling. The compound of the mosque also encloses a number of ancient tombstones erected in memory of past Sultan's, heroes and nobles.

                                                                    Photo: Munnaaru

Munnaaru

Close to the Friday Mosque is this gleaming white minaret also built by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar in 1675. the chief muezzin of Male' called the faithful to prayer from this minaret before the Islamic Center was built.

                                                             Photo: Medhu ziyaarath

Medhu ziyaarath 

Opposite the Hukuru Miskiiy is the Medhu Ziyaarath, the shrine of Abu al Barakaath Yusuf al  Barbari, a North African, believed to be responsible for converting the Maldives to Islam way back in AD 1153.

                                             

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN MALDIVES

                                   Photo: The first tourist resort in Maldives (Kurumba Maldives)

White sandy beaches, clear waters, and waving palms under blue skies make Maldives a tourist destination. Tourism was introduced to the Maldives in the early 1970s. The first two resort Island had a capacity of 280 beds. The first tourist arrived mostly as individuals or small groups. Soon, Maldives began to be recognized as an international tourist destination.

In 1972 the first tourist resort, Kurumba Village, (today a five star hotel), was pioneered by two Maldivian entrepreneurs in association with an Italian investor. A second resort was opened the same year on the island  of Bandos. Despite the basic facilities and services, 1,096 tourist arrivals were recorded that year.

                                Photo: The second tourist resort in Maldives (Bandos Island Resort)

At the start, the country's tourism and its development was for the most part dependent on private initiative. In 1979, the tourism law was enacted, requiring all foreign investments to be registered at the Department of Tourism and Foreign Investment. A tourism master plan was formulated in 1983, setting up guidelines for the overall development of tourism, and identifying tourism zones in different parts of the country. In 1984, the tourism advisory board was created. the department of tourism was upgraded to a ministry in 1988.

The opening of Male' International Airport in 1981 was an important milestone in the travel business. At the early stages, tourism in Maldives was a seasonal industry. As the country opened up further, this seasonal nature of tourism changed. In the early 21st century tourist arrivals were recorded throughout the year. During 1987, a school of hotel and catering was established to meet the manpower requirements of the industry. both government and private sector provide overseas training to those employed in the industry.

The private sector and the government are actively involved in the promotion and marketing of the tourism product. Maldives is represented in all major international travel fairs by both the government and the private operators. The tourist information counter at the Male' International Airport hands out leaflets and other information about the country. The Tourist Information Unit was formed in 1989 to further disseminate information.

The development of tourism has fostered the overall growth of the country's economy. It has created direct and indirect employment and income generation opportunities in other related industries. Today, tourism is the country's biggest foreign exchange earner, contributing nearly a fifth of the GDP.

(by: Current awareness services unit)

Today, more than 900,000 tourists visit the Maldives each year. Former president  Ibrahim Nasir, introduced tourism in Maldives.

MALDIVES

Maldives is an island nation in the Indian Ocean consisting of double chain of 26 natural clusters or atolls. "These atolls form a long, narrow chain in the Indian Ocean stretching almost 750 kilometers from north to south and covering a total area of about 90,000 square kilometers. The nearest lands messes are Capes Comorin, India's southern extremity, 480 kilometers north-east; and Sri Lanka, lying 650 kilometers north-east wards." [Cited: Mysticism in the Maldives, Ali Husain, Novelty publication 1991].

When we look at the Maldives, we knew that the majority of its history, Maldives has been polity, but there are three instances which it was ruled by exterior forces. In the mid 15th century, for fifteen years the Maldives was ruled by Portuguese empire. In the mid 17th century, for four months Dutch empire ruled, lastly late 19th century, on the brink of war, the Maldives became a British protectorate from 1887 until 1965.

The Maldives population is 328,536 (2012) inhabits 192 of its 1,192 islands. The capital of Maldives, Male' city is one of the islands closest to the Hulhule Island were located the main international airport.

In 1972 Maldives tourism industry was started with just two resorts with a capacity of about 280 beds. But today we have more than twenty thousand bed capacity with international quality standard, Indeed today more than 900,000 tourists visit the Maldives each year. In addition tourism industry is the backbone of Maldives economy. 

After all, I would like to present you an old Maldivian folk song, “Dheebu Dhivehi Mee”

In thaana script: 

Hindhu emaa kandu therein, Mala fehi ruhgas hedhey

Meemagey ufan bimey, Dheebu Dhivehi meeKula ali maa Kandu therein, Ali raiy mui hen dhireyMeemagey ufan bimey, dheebu Dhivehi mee

Translation:

In horizon of the vast Indian Ocean grow green palms
This is my homeland, this is the Maldives
From the clear blue seas, we grow like pearls,
This is my homeland, this is the Maldives.
In horizon of the vast Indian Ocean grow green palms
This is my homeland, this is the Maldives
From the clear blue seas, we grow like pearls,
This is my homeland, this is the Maldives.

Reference:

Mysticism in the Maldives, Ali Husain, 1991

http://www.visitmaldives.com/en/the-maldives/welcome-to-the-maldives

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_the_Maldives

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldives

# Maldives # Beautiful Maldives # Best tourist destination # Number one tourism Industry # Holiday # Invest

About us "WeMaldives"

"WeMaldives" are two-three people who love their nation (Maldives). We believe, for a healthy and wealthy nation; there is a responsibility for every person. If all takes their responsibility, the nation will be in a great happiness.

As we know, tourism industry is the backbone of our economy, for this reason we are glad to support and promote this industry by ourselves. We would like to share all information about our beloved country, Indeed we would like to impress you about Maldives.

 In short, "WeMaldives" aim is to offer true information about Maldives, which including, beauty of nature, economical, political, and social situation of Maldives, Moreover we will share with you, cultural and historical stories and events of Maldives.