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28 ASIAN TOURISM GUIDE 2012/2013TheMaldivesGeneral overviewfcial name Repulic of aldiesCapital alPopulation Total area km 2Currency Ruyaafcial language Dhiehi ut English isidely spoken• Ne DelhiINDIASRI LANKA• alTHE MALDIVESINDIANOCEANNika•Angaga•al•AlimathaTHE MALDIVESPolitical unrest affected <strong>tourism</strong> in the Maldives in the first few monthsof 2012, following the resignation of president Mohamed Nasheed onFebruary 7. The Chinese market was worst hit by the developments –temporary suspension of charters led to a drop in arrivals.However, with new destination promotion campaigns <strong>and</strong> road showsin key markets, the <strong>tourism</strong> industry rebounded <strong>and</strong> by end-Septemberarrivals rose 3.4 per cent to 691,608.Despite the problems, the government is still hopeful of reaching itstarget of one million tourist arrivals in 2012. The Maldives marks 40years of <strong>tourism</strong> in 2013 <strong>and</strong> the fourth edition of the five-year masterplan(2012-2016) is under preparation.ClimateAverage temperature 25°C to 31°CAverage rainfall 1,786.4mm to 2,277.8mmAverage humidity 80 per centBest time to visitThe Maldives has year-round tropical weather. There aretwo monsoons – the south-west from May to October<strong>and</strong> the north-east from November to April.Peak travel season falls between December <strong>and</strong> April,when the weather is calm with the least rainfall. February<strong>and</strong> March are the sunniest <strong>and</strong> ideal for European holidaymakersseeking refuge from winter back home. However,the off-peak season attracts many Chinese visitorswhen prices are also on the low side. Regular showers areexpected in June <strong>and</strong> July.Visitor arrivals <strong>statistics</strong>Total international visitor arrivals from January to Septemberrose just marginally to 691,608, or 3.4 per centover the same period in 2011. The average length of stayof visitors was 6.8 days.Europe continues to be largest source of visitors to theMaldives by region, contributing 57.7 per cent of tourists,with the second largest regional group being Asia, providing35.9 per cent of traffic.Trends show that gradually 50 per cent of travellers tothe Maldives are expected to come from Asia, particularlyChina.China is showing strong growth, while Maldivian authoritiesare also banking on India’s sizable middle-classthat travels <strong>and</strong> relishes high-class hotels <strong>and</strong> top-notchcuisine.As per <strong>statistics</strong> in 2012, the industry faced many cancellations– 6,700 bed nights – from February 10 to theend of the month, owing to the political unrest, accordingto the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation(MMPRC).Subsequently, a sustained marketing <strong>and</strong> promotioncampaign, which included road shows in selectedcapitals <strong>and</strong> familiarisation trips for journalistsfrom key source markets, turned the situation around<strong>and</strong> brought about a 14.5 per cent year-on-year growthin July.Meanwhile, the MMPRC expected some 100,000 arrivalsin August, the peak month for inbound <strong>tourism</strong>,but recorded slightly less than 80,000 visitors.Top 10 source markets in 2011Countries Arrivals % ChangeChina . .ermany .taly .Russia .rance .apan .Siterl<strong>and</strong> .ndia .orea .Top 10 source markets in 2012 (January - September)Countries Arrivals % ChangeChina . .ermany .Continued next columnContinued from previous columnTop 10 source markets in 2012Countries Arrivals % Changetaly .Russia .rance .apan .Siterl<strong>and</strong> .ndia .South orea .Source: inistry of TourismTourism receiptsYears Receipts % Change S. million . estimated S illion Source: aldies nl<strong>and</strong> Reenue AuthorityHotel <strong>statistics</strong>As of end-September 2012, the Maldives had in operation99 resorts with 22,177 beds, 18 hotels with 1,567 beds <strong>and</strong>75 live-aboard safari vessels with 1,125 beds.Between January <strong>and</strong> September, average occupancywas 75.8 per cent at resorts, 30.5 per cent at hotels <strong>and</strong>27.2 per cent for live-aboard safari vessels.New hotels in 2012/2013• JW Marriott Maldives Gaakoshibee Resort & Spa,100 villas• Radisson Plaza Resort Maldives, 281 villas• Radisson Blu Hotel Maldives Hulhumale, 250 rooms• Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives, 140 villasSource: inistry of TourismNew attractions/<strong>tourism</strong> infrastructureNew international connections on Maldivian, thecountry’s international airline, began November this year.The carrier introduced flights to Chennai <strong>and</strong> Mumbaiin India <strong>and</strong> to the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. Italso commenced daily flights to the south Indian city ofThiruvanathapuram (also known as Triv<strong>and</strong>rum).Meanwhile, Mega Maldives Airlines announced it waslaunching new routes connecting the capital with Seoul,Melbourne, Johannesburg, Tokyo <strong>and</strong> two points in Germany.It has added a third aircraft to its fleet, a Boeing757-200W, to support existing services between Mal <strong>and</strong>Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing <strong>and</strong> Chengdu.There has been no word yet on when these services areexpected to commence.Two international airports in Hanimadhoo <strong>and</strong> Ganare being planned to serve the southern <strong>and</strong> northern atolls.These future facilities will help to support the currentIbrahim Nasir International Airport. The move is part ofthe Maldives’ fourth edition of its five-year <strong>tourism</strong> masterplan,covering 2012 to 2016, which places an emphasison developing new airports as the main infrastructure for<strong>tourism</strong>.Subsix at the Niyama, Per Aquum’s newest resort in theMaldives, opened as the world’s first underwater club inSeptember. Access to the club is via a staircase from Edge,an overwater restaurant, taking guests six metres belowthe surface of the Indian Ocean.Down below, guests will find themselves in an intimateclub with floor-to-ceiling windows surrounding three sidesof the structure. The club has a bar <strong>and</strong> DJ console, while seating is spaced carefully to allow unobstructed views of exoticmarine life.Essentials in the city – MaléFood Give addubondi a try. It is a long, coconut-basedc<strong>and</strong>y which comes wrapped in a banana leaf. Find it atthe local market.Quirky In October 2009, the Maldives held a cabinetmeeting at the bottom of the ocean, with ministersdressed in scuba gear. Communication relied on h<strong>and</strong>signals. Chaired by then-president Mohamed Nasheed,it was meant to draw global attention to climate change.It was also the first-ever cabinet meeting held underwa-