Maldivian uses IBS' Passenger Services System

Maldivian, the national airline of Maldives, has gone live with IBS' new-generation Passenger Service System, aiRES in the Software as a Service (SaaS) mode. The solution will help the airline manage its passenger reservations, inventory control, fares & ticketing, and departure control functions.

Maldivian has chosen IBS’ solution for its cost-effectiveness, optimum fit, short implementation time and flexible features that include Web Distribution, GDS, and Credit Card payment gateways. Through its open architecture, aiRES will enable Maldivian to broaden its customer service offering by integrating it with its distribution channels.

Maldivian operates scheduled flights both to domestic destinations as well as to the regional destination, Trivandrum in India and is looking to add more such destinations such as Colombo, Sri Lanka in November 2008 to boost tourism to the island nation and more importantly to provide greater convenience for the locals traveling abroad. aiRES provides the airline the rich functionality and the flexible and scalable architecture required to help address its growth needs and the business agility to adapt to the requirements of a changing and competitive market. The SaaS (hosted) version of the new-generation system allows Maldivian to utilize the complete functionality of the system to improve customer experience, in a very cost-effective manner, being required to pay on a transaction basis. This is especially significant at a time when rising costs driven by fuel prices, are driving airlines to look for effective ways to reduce operational costs in other areas.

Source: www.indiaprwire.com

Tourism Day Supplement 2008

Please Click HERE to view the Tourism Day Supplement 2008.

Source: www.visitmaldives.com

New edition of 'Maldives Traveller' released

2009 edition of 'Maldives Traveller' has released by Minister of tourism and civil aviation Dr. Abdulla Mausoom on 18th September 2008, to coincide with the beginning of JATA World travel fair in Tokyo, Japan.

The launching of 'Maldives Traveller' was held at Hotel Nikko in Japan, at the Maldivian dinner reception hosted by the Maldives Tourism Promotion Board. Several travel agents, tour operators, media from Japan and JATA travel fair delegates from Maldives participated in the event.

'Maldives Traveller' is annually published premier guide for people eager to explore the Maldives with its unique Resorts Islands, history, culture, people and attractions. The 2009 edition has included new resorts opening in 2008 and early 2009.

The 'Holiday in the Maldives' section provides information how to spend a holiday in the Maldives plus well-known surf breaks; 'Maldives Resort Catalogue' covers the resorts in the Maldives; 'Diving in the Maldives' covers basic information on diving, most popular dive sites in the country and commonly seen fish by diving and snorkelling; 'The Maldives' section highlights its history, culture, festivals, Maldivian way of life etc. and finally 'Guide to Male' and Atolls' covers attractions and sights to see in capital Male' and the Atolls.

And plus the English language version has included 'Maldives Traveller Forum’, which includes, letters from readers, a tale from traveller, an interview with former Minister of tourism and little bit history of beginning of Maldives tourism etc.

'Maldives Traveller' is available through its partners and distributors worldwide and as well online on www.maldives-shopping.com

Tropical Paradise has started publishing Maldives guides by educating travellers’ needs since 2002. Now these guides are available in six different languages, English, Japanese, Russian, Italian, German and French. Tropical Paradise hopes to introduce Chinese and Korean Languages versions in 2009.

Source: www.visitmaldives.com

Five candidates challenge Gayoom

Long-time President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom will face five opponents in the Maldives’ first democratic presidential election next month, said election officials.

The election is the culmination of a four-year reform effort intended to fight corruption and bring democracy to the Indian Ocean archipelago known more as a tourist getaway than a hotbed of political activism. Though most of the candidates have been known for several weeks, the Election Commission officially announced who would be on the October 8 ballot on Sunday.

Mr. Gayoom, who has ruled the Sunni-Muslim nation of nearly 1,200 mostly uninhabited islands for 30 years, hopes to capture a seventh consecutive term under a new Constitution, which has been hailed as an important reform step for the country. His main challengers are expected to be Mohamed Nasheed, head of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party, and the former Attorney-General, Hassan Saeed. A former Foreign Minister who is also a prominent businessman, an Islamic party candidate and the head of a small opposition party are also running.

“I think this is going to be a very transparent, free and fair election, said Mr. Gayoom after the announcement. If no one wins an outright majority, there will be a run-off election between the two with the most votes. Mr. Gayoom faced no opposition in previous elections because political parties were banned, and voters were only allowed to vote “yes” or “no.”

He has been credited with turning a sleepy string of fishing islands into a major tourism destination and filling its coffers with hard currency. But he has also been accused of ruling the country with an authoritarian grip, while drug abuse and Islamist radicalism have increased during his decades in power.

Mr. Gayoom’s candidacy is being challenged in the Supreme Court under new laws that limit presidents to two terms.

An Islamic party has also accused him of not being a Sunni, a prerequisite for the presidency. Mr. Nasheed’s eligibility is also being challenged because of a 2001 theft conviction that was widely viewed as politically motivated.

The elections are the culmination of a reform movement that began in 2004 following mass street demonstrations over the death of a teenager at the hands of prison guards. Political parties were legalised in 2005 and the new Constitution, ratified in August, limits the President’s powers and promises Maldivians new rights, including freedom of speech and assembly.

Source: www.thehindu.com

Former Barbados PM to lead Commonwealth election observers to Maldives

Barbados: Former Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur will lead a Commonwealth Observer Group to the Maldives Presidential Election scheduled for 8 October 2008.

This was announced by Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma. The Observers will be supported by a staff team from the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The Commonwealth was invited by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Maldives to observe the election

"This election is the first to be conducted under the new Constitution, which was ratified in August 2008, and the first election under the new multi-party system," said the Secretary-General.

He added that the mandate of the Observer Group is to consider the various factors impinging on the credibility of the electoral process as a whole. The Group will determine in its own judgement whether the election has been conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which the country has committed itself, in adhering to national election-related legislation and relevant regional, Commonwealth and other international commitments.

The team will be in the Maldives from 1 October.

Source: www.caribbeannetnews.com