PARADISE IN DEMAND
MALDIVES All-inclusives
The pristine beaches and turquoise seas of this remote Indian Ocean archipelago
have long been a magnet for honeymooners, divers, and those simply in need of some simple R & R. Now the country’s new all- inclusive resorts are providing the perfect escape, says Lauren Jarvis
T
he Maldives Tourist Board had good cause to celebrate as last year came to a close: in 2013, the country had
exceeded its visitor ‘target’ by attracting over one million tourists to its paradise islands. Made up of 1,190 coral islands, 200 of which are inhabited, the Maldives’ atolls stretch 90,000 sq kms across the equator, yet its land mass counts for just one per cent of its total area. Unlike its Indian Ocean neighbours, the
Seychelles and Mauritius, the Maldives’ endless scatter of small-but-perfectly-formed islands has naturally led to the ‘one-island- one-resort’ concept, which lends itself perfectly to the all-inclusive holiday. And with little development outside of the
country’s bustling capital, Malé, to provide a distraction, it’s the ideal destination to focus on kicking back, enjoying some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, or exploring the underwater wonders of the nation’s incredible coral reefs. Historically, all-inclusives were relatively basic in the Maldives, but the last few years have
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seen a surge of high-quality resorts to suit most budgets. And while the most popular time to visit is the dry season from December to April there are special deals to be found all-year round. Kuoni’s Commercial & Product Manager,
Sheena Paton, sees the Maldivian resorts’ broad appeal as one of the country’s key strengths. “The Maldives continues to be our most popular destination because it has an island to suit everyone: honeymooners looking for romance and privacy, singles looking to escape and rejuvenate and families wanting excellent children’s facilities and activities. It’s also very accessible from the UK, despite its location.” With economic optimism slowly returning
to the UK, but customers still keeping a close eye on spending, all-inclusive resorts could offer the perfect holiday solution. “The appeal of all-inclusive resorts is increasing, as not only are they good value for money, they also allow customers to know the total spend of their holiday in advance,” says Richard Tams, Head of UK & Ireland Sales & Marketing for British Airways.
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