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,…
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…
Condé Nast Traveller’s list of the “Most Romantic Places in the World” places the Maldives as one of the world’s most romantic destinations, which has long been associated with romance, front and center. The magazine sets the bar for romantic getaways by showcasing the archipelago’s unmatched capacity to provide couples with idyllic retreats. Enchantment starts…
With effect from 1st July 2025, the Maldives’ Tourism Goods and Services Tax (TGST) rate will increase from 16% to 17%. The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has approved this modification, which is a component of the 7th amendment to the Goods and Services Tax Act. Its goal is to help the Maldives’ thriving tourism…
At the Diving & Resort Travel Expo 2024, also known as the DRT Show 2024, the National Boating Association of Maldives (NBAM) and the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/Visit Maldives) showcased the stunning underwater environment of the Maldives. The event was held in Hong Kong from 13th December 2024 to 15th December 2024.…