A dedicated marine research centre has officially opened on Velassaru Maldives, in South Male' Atoll, for the purposes of protecting the resort's fragile coral reef system and to raise awareness with visiting guests. Known as WETLAB, the centre is a collaboration between Velassaru's resident marine biologist, Gaby Velazquez, and Silver Sands, the company that runs its dive centre. "We've had a great response from our guests since we opened," says Rifaa-Ath Saeed, the Sales & Marketing Manager of Velassaru.  More >

Six Senses has just announced further details of the lineup for the international Eco Symposium event at Soneva Fushi, which will include President of the Maldives as well as top environmentalists, policy-makers and consultants. As Maldives Traveller reported in May, the resort operator is hosting a special three-day event between October 7 and 10 at Soneva Fushi in Baa Atoll. The event is aimed at raising awareness of environmental issues among the tourism industry and offering practical advice.  More >

In business, it's often said that one person's loss is another person's gain. Holidays in the Maldives seem no exception, with some of the country's popular island resorts suggesting that an extended low season in 2010 has helped ensure a "very customer-friendly' period for bargain hunters to come visit. Speaking to Maldives Traveller, a spokesperson for the Kanuhura resort in the country's Lhaviyani Atoll says that in an increasingly competitive time for the travel industry, operators in the country are looking to offer extra value in their holiday packages to maintain stronger year-round interest in their properties.  More >

Auditions for Survivor Maldives have now closed, as the public wait to find out which contestants were selected for the newest series of the hit reality TV show. The South African version of Survivor is set to be filmed in the Maldives at the end of the year, as Maldives Traveller previously reported. M-Net TV channel will be flying the contestants to an isolated island in the Maldives where they will have to compete prizes, including the ultimate cash prize of one million rand.  More >

International artist Christopher Hogan will be adding the tropical hues of the Maldives to his palette when he touches down in the Maldives this month. Christopher, a contemporary artist from Australia, will be sharing his unique talents and techniques with guests at Anantara Maldives in South Malé Atoll at special art classes. He is credited with playing a role in pioneering contemporary art in his home country, where Christopher has exhibited his artwork widely, and he has also exhibited in North America, Japan and across the rest of the globe.  More >

For adults coming to the Maldives, holiday appeal can lie everywhere - from the well-stocked desert island bars to romantic beach settings - yet when considering younger guests, Bandos Island Resort and Spa aims to offer a paralleled wealth of excitement. A spokesperson for the resort says that in trying to cater for visiting families, Bandos aims to provide an extensive daily kids club itinerary alongside a trained babysitting service and special dive courses for children over eight years of age.  More >

Webcams are proving a popular asset for publicising many resorts across the Maldives, with people from all over the world logging on to catch the latest glimpses of island life. So-called "desktop daydreamers" use the webcams either to get a sneak preview of an island prior to their visit or to keep in touch with the resort that they have so many fond holiday memories of. It takes the whole concept of the "Maldives screensaver" to the next level.  More >

Holiday destinations offering services designed to more directly meet the needs and sensitivities of gay and lesbian travellers are becoming increasingly lucrative, and as a result, more important to tour operators all over the world. Yet, while the Maldives' resorts have long attracted guests of varying sexuality, faiths, race and even accents from all over the world, experts suggest that it is currently unlikely the country will look to directly market itself to homosexual visitors or other orientations of guests.  More >

We all have daydreams of becoming a culinary genius inside the kitchen, serving up delectable dishes for an exclusive group of invited guests under a gorgeously romantic setting of candlelight and stars. But what if these dreams suddenly became reality? And how would you feel if it happened in a place as exotic and idyllic as the Maldives islands? These are the pleasures and joys which Peter Fritz, the internationally-acclaimed Executive Chef of Baros Maldives, wakes up to every morning.  More >

"Water, water everywhere, and quite a lot to surf," is definitely not a quote lifted from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's famous nautical poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, yet it certainly sums up the growing appeal to travellers in grabbing a board and seeing the Maldives from atop its waves. In fact, a growing number of tour operators, resorts and other specialist tourism groups have all taken to offering excursions that play up the opportunities for taking in some sun and surf on the Maldives' waters in recent years.  More >