Per my post “Should I Keep Maldives Complete Going”, I have pondered in recent months whether Maldives Complete is still worth the big investment of time and money. But then I have visit like this year where I am so warmly welcomed and supported and find so many great things to write about that my sprit and perseverance is lifted. So, I have lots of material and motivation on the heels of this trip to keep me going for some time now.
A few overall reflections of the destination itself in the aftermath of this year’s Tour:
- NEW AIRPORT – After seeing the construction over the past few years, the new airport actually “opened” (well, the opening ceremony but only limited flights operating out of it to beign wth) during our stay which is a major milestone in destination maturity. It looks quite impressive and will provide a modern change from the, albeit charming but nonetheless limiting, premises of the decades-old incumbent designed to serve a few flights a day. Things like gates, expanded retail and dining, increased security and passport capacity to reduce queues will all make the visit experience more comfortable. It does come with some side effects like a 20-minute traffic jam to get from the seaplane terminal to our boat transfer which will take some time to iron out.
- EVOLUTION – Prompted by the massive change of arrival venue next door while still arriving at the same arrival hall that we did in the 90s, we thought about all that had changed in the Maldives as well as those things that remained stubbornly the same. We remembered how we used to be able to sit up on the bow of the small speedboat with the wind in our hair on the way to our island, but now the transfer boats are much bigger and we all have to sit in the back and wear life jackets. Something different – We remember being enchanted by the many tropical fish swimming around the transfer quays, but now there are hardly any. On the more positive side, the staff areas have become much more sophisticated. For example, Siyam World had a massive complex for their staff with some rooms and amenities you might find at some economy resorts. Something the same – resort gift shops with the same tired cheap tat and overpriced boring jewellery.
- SEGMENTATION – I realise that with the growth of the resort types, I really need to consider “Best of the Maldives” commendations by price tier. Reethi Rah, Soneva and Velaa may have everything you can imagine, but few of us can afford to go there to experience it. .
- INFRASTRUCTURE – Also, a lot of “Best Ofs” on the blog are now really “firsts” in the history of Maldivian tourism, but now many are commonplace. Luxury décor and feels easier than ever with the new generation of materials like engineered stone and vinyl flooring which provides the elegance of natural aesthetic that is cheaper to buy and much harder wearing. We are currently in the middle of a major house renovation nd are opting for these ourselves because they make so much sense, provide so much selection and look so great. Luxury is commoditizing.
- JULY WEATHER – Don’t like the weather?…wait a minute. Especially, if it is raining. Towards the end of our stay, we had regular showers which meant that several times through the day, the sky darkened, it bucketed down rain for 15 minutes, then stopped and the sun came out. It can affect activities so you do need to book important outdoor activities early in your stay to give you a postponement backup option.
- GUESTS – There seemed to be a surge of Russians. The majority at every resort. Maybe it’s pent up demand (I know Russian market dropped massively with the invasion of Ukraine). But their foreign currency reserves are supposed to be at an all-time low so not sure how people are getting the dollars to take out of the country.
