The people of the magical Maldives have been welcoming travellers with open arms since ancient times. No wonder they keep winning global hospitality awards.
THE PEOPLE OF THE MALDIVES are the descendants of travellers, seafarers of ancient times who made their ways across the vast open oceans to settle these peaceful patches of land. They lived simply as fisherfolk, thriving on the bountiful tuna catch in the waters around them, the reason this big fish remains an important symbol of the Maldives to this day. They also welcomed other travellers and new arrivals, including, the story goes, a prince from the Subcontinent named Koimala, who made his home—eventually palace—in Male, eventually the capital.
From such roots, old Maldivian tales tell us they have always been a people who respected and cared for voyagers and castaways. It’s little wonder that such a strong culture of warmth and hospitality still pervades the country today. So much so, in fact, that the Maldives has been named World’s Leading Destination at the World Travel Awards for three years running.
Anyone who’s been to this idyllic Indian Ocean nation can tell you why. Seas so blue your eyes ache from the beauty. Some of the most luxurious villas in the world, both over the waves and on the beaches. Private islands, private butlers, adventure sports, wonderful wellness havens, underwater nature preserves, underwater restaurants!
This is a place that takes its motto, The Sunny Side of Life, seriously. From the moment you touch down at Male airport and are met with wide smiles, to your speedboat or seaplane transfer over the shockingly clear waters of this azure archipelago by endearingly barefoot captains and pilots… Arrivals and departures from resorts are family affairs, with staff often greeting you with song and bidding you farewell with heartfelt sadness. Every interaction in between fosters connections and makes those bucket-list memories you came here for.
Hard to believe that the country only kicked-started its tourism industry 50 years ago. But they’ve been growing and pioneering ever since. What did it take to be named the World’s Leading Destination at the height of the global pandemic? Out-of-the box thinking that took into account the special nature of both the geography of the Maldives and the travelers who wanted to visit. Hotels that continued to build and grow and come up with new ways to put the guests first. Innovative, open-arms approaches that led to half a million tourist arrivals in 2020, when most countries’ borders remained completely shut.
The Maldives more than doubled that number to 1.3 million visitors in 2021, and hit 1.6 million last year—winning World’s Leading Destination again and again. Now is the time to head for those kaleidoscopic house reefs, global cuisine, parasails, surf breaks and spas.
No longer just a castaway fairytale for honeymooners, the Maldives has loads to offer the luxury, romance, family and adventurous travellers, and is now focused on exploring more segments such as MICE and leisure travellers. You really can have it all.
The culture’s songs, poems, and folktales speak of long journeys across the thousand isles. We think it’s time to write your own magical story in the legendary Maldives.
WEBSITE: VISITMALDIVES.COM/EN
2nd Floor, H. Zonaria,
Boduthakurufaanu Magu,
Male’, Maldives
Contact: +960 332 3228
Email: info@visitmaldives.com
Article sponsored by Maldives Tourism.
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