Business & Tourism
Malaysian company awarded US$57.5m project to build five airports
Developing an airport on the northern island of Kulhudhufushi is a campaign pledge of President Abdulla Yameen. But environmentalists have previously warned that it would destroy the island’s environmentally sensitive wetland area.
07 Mar 2017, 9:00 AM
Saudi Airlines to double flights to Maldives
Saudi Arabia is also funding a grand mosque in Malé that can accommodate 6,000 worshippers. Last week, the housing ministry awarded the US$24 million project to Turkish company Alke-Turmaks.
06 Mar 2017, 9:00 AM
Import duty hiked for cigarettes and energy drinks
The price of a pack of cigarettes has shot up from MVR48 (US$3.11) to about MVR75 (US$5) after the import duty hike from MVR1.25 to MVR2 per cigarette came into effect. The price of a single cigarette is up from MVR2.50 to about MVR4.
05 Mar 2017, 9:00 AM
President launches US$400m airport runway project
President Abdulla Yameen launched Monday morning a US$400 million project awarded to China’s Beijing Urban Construction Group to build a new runway at the Velana International Airport.
27 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM
High court deals blow to Gasim’s bid to retain airport
The high court overturned a lower court order halting the tourism ministry’s takeover of the Kaadehdhoo airport in Gaaf Dhaal airport.
24 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM
Thousand jobs on offer at Hulhumalé youth career expo
According to state media, the jobs fair in Hulhumalé was organised by the economic development ministry and the state-owned Housing Development Corporation at the behest of First Lady Fathmath Ibrahim, who is overseeing the president’s re-election campaign.
20 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM
In unprecedented move, supreme court sacks civil court judge
The apex court declared that Judge Mariyam Waheed has “lost the legitimacy, legal capacity, and authority” to remain on the bench after she ruled against the government in a long-running dispute over the lease of Vaavu Bodumohora for resort development.
18 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM
Airport hotel suspends six staff after protest
The suspension came after more than 60 Maldivian staff signed a petition demanding that the management lifts the suspension of a staff member accused of leaving without permission during duty hours.
16 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM
Tourism lobby scuttled rules banning resorts from selling dollars
The rules were aimed at alleviating a persisting dollar shortage and tackling an entrenched black market.
14 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM
Maldives secured US$100m from India to shore up depleted reserve
The agreement with the Reserve Bank of India was the Maldives’ first currency swap deal.
14 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM
President forms new tourism promotion company
Former Auditor General Niyaz Ibrahim has suggested that the government is planning to “bury” the scandal-ridden Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation and replace it with the new tourism promotion company.
12 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM
Maldives resort owners alarmed by ‘falling revenues’
Expressing concern over declining revenues, MATI called on the government to increase destination marketing activities.
09 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM
Villa takes government to court over airport seizure
A civil court judge has granted a stay on the seizure of a domestic airport leased to Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim’s Villa Group.
07 Feb 2017, 9:00 AM
President’s announcement revives rumours about the sale of Maldives atoll to Saudi Arabia
The president described the project as a township or an integrated development project involving various industries and open to travellers from all over the world.
29 Jan 2017, 9:00 AM
Maldives holds landmark conference on tourism and terrorism
The Maldives police and British counter-terrorism experts sat down this week with more than a 100 tourism sector security personnel to work out measures to protect visitors from potential acts of terror.
26 Jan 2017, 9:00 AM
Yameen dismisses concern over debt as Maldives turns to global bond markets
The president’s remarks come after the World Bank warned in its Global Economic Prospects report released last week that “rising debt levels” and “persistent political tensions” are among the risks facing the Maldivian economy.
23 Jan 2017, 9:00 AM
Major cyber attacks disrupt internet service across the Maldives
Disgruntled internet users are calling on telecoms companies for compensation after cyber attacks disrupted internet services across the Maldives for more than a week.
13 Jan 2017, 9:00 AM
Tourist arrivals register double-digit growth in November
Despite tourist arrivals growing by 4.6 percent annually as of November, revenue from Tourism Goods and Services Tax last year decreased by -4.4 compared to 2015, suggesting shorter stays and lower spending by tourists.
12 Jan 2017, 9:00 AM
Tourism firms win legal bids to recover property despite evidence of graft
Two companies involved in the MMPRC scandal have won legal bids to recover an island and a lagoon seized by the Maldivian authorities after an audit report revealed that the state did not receive acquisition fees.
10 Jan 2017, 9:00 AM
National bank to set up airport kiosk for dollar sales
From January 8 onward, travellers can buy up to US$500 dollars per ticket through an online portal or at any BML branch. But the dollars must be collected from a dedicated area at the Velana International Airport after checking in at the departure terminal.
05 Jan 2017, 9:00 AM
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