Manta Air has announced its decision to launch direct flights from Dhaalu Airport in Kudahuvadhoo to India’s Bangalore.

The airlines, in a statement on Wednesday, said direct flights between Kudahuvadhoo Airport and Bangalore’s Kempegowda International Airport will be commencing next January.

As per the airline, the launch of the direct flights will allow Indian tourists to avoid the hassles and additional expense of transiting through the main Velana International Airport and gaining direct access to many luxury resorts located in Dhaalu Atoll.

Dhaalu Atoll hosts some of country’s best resorts such as Kandima Maldives, Niyama Private Islands, St. Regis Maldives, RIU, Baglioni, Angsana Velavaru, and Sun Siyam Iru Veli.

Manta Air’s CEO Mohamed Khaleel said the launch of direct flights between Dhaalu Atoll and Bangalore marks a pivotal moment for the airline as it progresses from being the leading domestic and seaplane carrier in the Maldives to an international airline operator.

“This strategic move aims to enhance the guest experience and boost bookings for resorts in Dhaalu atoll, particularly Kandima, RIU Hotel, and Niyama Private Island, which are all located in close proximity to the airport. By facilitating easier and more affordable travel access to the Maldives, we foresee a substantial increase in travel demand from Bengaluru and across India in 2024 and beyond,” he added.

Manta Air commenced operations in February 2019 as a domestic carrier. The upcoming launch of direct flights between Dhaalu Atoll and Bangalore will mark the first time the airline is commencing operations to a foreign nation.

Source(s): sun.mv

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has decided to list whale sharks as a protected species in the Maldives under the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act.

The decision was made following cabinet recommendations and deliberations on a paper presented during Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.

Whale sharks were previously designated as a protected species under the Fisheries Act.

The cabinet paper proposed that the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act would provide the most effective framework for the conservation and management of whale sharks instead, following the observation that the Maldivian fishing industry nor fishing industries worldwide regarded whale sharks as a viable fishery species.

The paper also highlighted the Maldives’ conservation challenges for whale sharks and their ecosystem.

The Cabinet paper additionally emphasized how the conservation and management of whale sharks under the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act would safeguard the species’ habitat and overcome conservation obstacles.

The paper also noted prospective environmental, social, and economic benefits.

As of July 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified whale sharks as an endangered species on its red list.

Source(s): sun.mv

Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation (MMPRC) has announced that Maldives has won four major accolades at the World Travel Awards (WTA) Indian Ocean category.

The World Travel Awards Africa and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony was held at Dubai’s famous Atlantis the Royal on October 15.

The awards Maldives won in the Indian Ocean Category are:

Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2023
Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination 2023
Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination 2023

Maldives has won all three of these for the fourth consecutive year. In addition to these, MMPRC also took home the title of “Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board 2023” in recognitionof the diligence, commitment, and inventive marketing initiatives it has used to promote the Maldives to a global audience.

It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of these accolades from the tourism industry. It highlights the Maldives’ position as a world-class travel destination, the nation’s dedication to providing travellers with life-changing experiences, and the ongoing work of MMPRC to advance and grow the tourism industry in the country.

Maldives have been nominated for multiple awards in the WTA World category. These nominations are for World’s Leading Destination, World’s Leading Beach Destination, World’s Leading Dive Destination, World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination, World’s Leading Island Destination, and World’s Most Romantic Destination. MMPRC is also nominated for World’s Leading Tourist Board, after having won it the previous year.

Voting for the World category of WTA is open till November 17. Votes can be cast on the WTA website.

The World Travel Awards are recognised as the most prestigious awards in the travel and tourism industry worldwide since they were founded in 1993. The awards, which stand for the highest praise for achievement, are given to accomplishments in all facets of the travel and tourist business worldwide.

Source(s): sun.mv