Maldives News Bulletin Volume 105

Date: August 2-3, 2024 | Volume: 105

President and First Lady observe the Independence Day military parade, display

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed observed the military parade, route march, and display by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and National Cadet Corps on Friday to commemorate the 59th anniversary of the Maldives’ independence. To observe the parade and route march, the President and First Lady arrived at the Ameer Ahmed Magu South of the President’s Office. Upon their arrival, they were greeted by the Minister of Defence, Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, and the Minister of Dhivehi Language, Culture, and Heritage, Adam Naseer Ibrahim. The event was attended by cabinet ministers, senior officials from government offices and institutions, and members of the general public.

MPL to develop a yacht marina in Uligan

The Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) and the Uligan Island Council have signed an agreement to develop a yacht marina on the island. The agreement was signed by the CEO of MPL Mohamed Wajeeh Ibrahim and the President of the Uligan Island Council Ahmed Muaz.

Under the agreement, MPL will develop a yacht marina in Uligan island and establish the necessary facilities to provide services to yachts. Wajeeh noted that the practical work of establishing the yacht marina will commence this year. He stated that the concept of the marina is now being developed. Additionally, Wajeed noted that discussions are underway with investors.

Noting that the previous governments did not respond to the island’s concerns on the lack of a yacht marina, Muaz stated that the development of a yacht marina in Uligan was a long-standing dream of the island population.

Uligan is a port popular for yachts. Every year, during the peak tourist season, many yachts dock on the island. However, the lack of tourist facilities on the island is a huge concern of the islanders.

MATATO, MMPRC, NHGAM partner up for Destination Maldives at Asian Tourism Fair 2024

Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has joined the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/ Visit Maldives) and the National Hotel and Guesthouse Association of Maldives (NGHAM) to promote Destination Maldives in the Asian Tourism Fair (ATF-Dhaka) 2024.

MATATO joined the driving team for ATF 2024 to strengthen tourism development and boost arrivals from the emerging Bangladeshi outbound market.

MMPRC, MATATO, and NGHAM will jointly curate a Maldives stand at ATF-Dhaka, featuring a diverse range of products and services from our world-class resorts, hotels, guesthouses, and tour operators. The stand will also highlight the Maldives’ pristine natural beauty, rich marine life, and exceptional hospitality. The event will also provide a platform to promote the Maldives’ local tourism offerings.

ATF-Dhaka, scheduled to take place from September 19-21, 2024, at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is a premier platform for industry stakeholders to network, collaborate, and explore new business opportunities. With Bangladesh being a new market for the Maldives tourism industry, the fair presents a significant opportunity to showcase the unique offerings of the destination and attract a larger share of tourists from Bangladesh and the South Asian region.

MMPRC’s participation in ATF-Dhaka is aligned with the strategic objectives of promoting the Maldives as the most preferred tourist destination worldwide, increasing destination awareness and building strong relationships with the international travel trade.

Fenaka says bills worth USD 32 million are yet to be received

Managing Director of Fenaka Corporation Limited Muaz Mohamed Rasheed has stated that the payments for the services to some islands remain pending, with outstanding bills totaling over USD 32 million.

Speaking at a press conference, Managing Director Muaz explained that services rendered to 29 islands have not been billed due to the absence of permits from the Utility Regulatory Authority (URA). Noting that discussions with the URA are ongoing to address the billing for these services, Muaz stated that Fenaka is yet to receive USD32.5 million from those respective islands.

During the press briefing, the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of Fenaka Mohamed Masood reported that the unbilled amount of USD 32.5 million was outstanding as of the last quarter. The CFO further detailed that this sum includes overdue bills totalling USD 24.6 million. He assured that measures are being undertaken to facilitate the payment process for those with overdue bills, aiming to make it more convenient for them to settle the bills.

The government is making strategic efforts to tackle the issue of illegal immigrants in the country, with the Maldives Immigration and the Maldives Police Service collaborating to conduct a special operation to track down illegal immigrants. The government aims to expand this operation across all islands nationwide within the next year and targets to solve the issue of illegal immigrants completely within three years. Immigration notes that the deportation process of the detained expatriates is underway.

MET Office to set up weather warning system to alert islands separately

The Maldives Meteorological Service (MET) disclosed that the office is working to identify the damage caused by the bad weather conditions and establish a warning system that will alert the islands separately. The decision was revealed by the Minister of State for Climate Change, Environment and Energy Ibrahim Mimrah, while speaking on a programme of PSM News. Stating the work to set up the warning system is currently ongoing, Mimrah noted that the impact-based forecast would help predict the damage caused by the weather and issue warnings to individual islands. He also added that a separate warning system for islands, as well as a flood warning system that will provide immediate notice of storms in different parts of the country, was installed at the MET Office last week.

Visit Maldives launches TVer campaign for Japan market

Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/ Visit Maldives) is launching a campaign with TVer to promote Maldives as a destination through one of the most well-known TV platforms in Japan. The campaign is scheduled to commence from 1st to 29th August 2024. TVer is a Japanese ad-supported video on demand (AVOD) network that was launched in October 2015 by the five main commercial broadcasters in Tokyo. Emerging as a next-generation television technology, connected TV is drawing a lot of attention. Maldives as an ultimate travel destination will be showcased with elements for luxury, couples, underwater and families during this campaign as a video advertisement before and in the middle of programs. Visit Maldives has carried out activities targeted to the Japanese market this year, including ongoing social media campaigns for the Visit Maldives Japan accounts, a media FAM Trip focused on Wellness & luxury, and webinars collaborating with Malaysian Airlines which explores new routes connecting Japan to the Maldives as well as an informative webinar on the destination overall which was organised for the agents of the Japan Outbound Tourism Council (JOTC).

The Japanese market is currently ranked at number 15 with 13,517 arrivals as of May 2024 with a 1.5 percent market share. Visit Maldives is constantly carrying out several marketing initiatives planned to further advertise and elevate the Maldives especially in the Japanese market. Some of the key upcoming activities focused on the Japanese market include a Joint promotion with top tour operators and digital campaigns. Additionally, Tourism Expo Japan 2024 is set to commence this September, organised by Japan Travel and Tourism Association, Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).

IGMH announces plans to expand bed capacity

Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) has announced plans to expand its bed capacity. An agreement was entered between IGMH and the Ministry of Housing, Land, and Urban Development to allocate land for the purpose.

IGMH has maintained a bed capacity of approximately 350 since opening 29 years ago. As the primary hospital in the Maldives, it faces significant challenges in meeting patient demand due to limited beds. In response, the government is working to address this issue. The housing ministry is currently discussing the construction of a new four-storey building with 74 additional beds to alleviate the shortage.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IGMH Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem highlighted that the hospital’s bed capacity has remained unchanged since its inception. He noted the growing need for more beds due to population increases in Male’ City and Hulhumale’. He also said that the plan is to add 74 new beds to address the issue.

Additionally, Abdul Razzaq noted plans to repurpose the administrative staff block to develop new wards and construct a separate building to house administrative staff. He also indicated that an administrative office building might be developed in the canteen area, with plans and drawings to be submitted to the ministry for approval before work begins.

As the main government hospital serving a large population, IGMH is focused on expanding and improving its services. The hospital currently employs 32 specialists across various fields.

Dhiraagu inaugurates international SEA-MEWE 6 submarine cable system

Telecommunications service provider Dhiraagu has officially launched the SEA-ME-WE 6 (SMW6) submarine cable landing in the Maldives. This marks a historic milestone as it becomes the first Maldivian digital service provider to join as a co-owner of a global submarine cable consortium.

The official inaugurating ceremony of SMW6 took place at Hulhumale’ Phase II. The Chief Guest of the function was the Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works Adam Shareef Umar.

Speaking at the event, Minister Adam Shareef Umar praised Dhiraagu for its pivotal role in advancing the nation’s digital growth and transformation, both locally and globally. The minister highlighted that the SMW6 submarine cable will provide the Maldives with direct access to multiple internet exchange points, thereby reducing dependency on any single country for global network connectivity.

The SMW6 submarine cable system is a global super-highway, connecting Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Western Europe at eleven countries from Singapore to France with the latest undersea cable technology. The 19,200 km long submarine cable system has a minimum transmission speed of 100Tbps.

Survey commences on new Villimale’ hospital

A study for the 100-bed tertiary hospital to be developed in Villimale’ has started. A technical team of China International Development Cooperation Agency has arrived in the Maldives to conduct the survey. The technical team has met with the senior officials of the Maldives involved in the project. The meeting shared information on the project’s implementation and important information required for its design. Furthermore, the team will visit the Villimale’ Hospital and inspect the development area of the new tertiary hospital. The study’s purpose is to prepare the drawings of the new hospital and gather the necessary information for the services to be established, as well as to complete the requirements for the contractor for the project.

During his official visit to China, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu decided to implement the project with the arranged free aid from China. The Letter of Exchange for the project was signed between the Maldives and China in late May. As such, the aim is to complete the project within two years of commencement.

Minister of Construction and Infrastructure Dr. Abdul Muthalib stated that the hospital will be a project that will introduce many new services to the country. He stated that a special centre will be set up for the elderly and those who need long-term admission, providing all stages of services.

Currently, the hospital in Villimale’ does not provide inpatient service due to space constraints. The hospital has a five-bed emergency room in use, and patients are brought to Male’ for further treatment.

MPL to start water bunkering services in Thuraakunu

Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has revealed plans to commence water bunkering services in Thuraakunu island in Haa Alif Atoll. The company has indicated that preparations are actively underway to establish these services. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MPL Mohamed Wajeeh Ibrahim along with some members of the management and members of Thuraakunu Island Council met over the week to discuss the plans for this endeavor. During these discussions, CEO Wajeeh conveyed that the launch of international bunkering services on the island would generate numerous employment opportunities for residents. The meeting also addressed the broader scope of maritime developments in the northern islands. In addition to setting up the water bunkering facility, MPL and the Thuraakunu Council have formalised an agreement to create a yacht marina and enhance maritime services at the island.

MAS Airlines launches direct flights to Maldives

Malaysia Airlines proudly marked the recommencement of its inaugural daily flight from Kuala Lumpur to the Maldives today. Flight MH485, operated by the Boeing 737-800, departed KL International Airport (KUL) at 10:10am with a 100 percent load factor of 174 passengers.

The fourhour 15-minute direct flight was welcomed with a water salute at Velana International Airport (MLE) at 11:25am local time. The return leg departs MLE to KUL at 12.30pm local time. This milestone signifies Malaysia Airlines’ 13th destination in South Asia, reinforcing its commitment to expanding its presence in key markets. This new route strengthens Malaysia Airlines’ position as the gateway to Asia and beyond, aligning with its commercial elevation journey. Malaysia Airlines last operated direct flights into the Maldives in 2017.

In conjunction with the launch of the new route, Malaysia Airlines is offering special promotional fares from now until 31 August 2024 for travellers to explore Maldives’ breathtaking landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and world-class resorts. Under the theme “The Time for the Maldives”, all-in return fares start from USD299 for Economy Class and are available for travel until 30 March 2025. Travellers can also take advantage of add-ons featuring a 10 percent discount on purchasing ancillary bundles such as value bundles, premium bundles, and MH Traveller’s Trio bundle, which includes a standard seat, 10kg extra baggage, and access to the Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge at KLIA.