Date:12/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/12/stories/2006111212980200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Special tourism packages from Maldives

Special Correspondent

Male can be reached in two hours by air

Bangalore: "Move over Goa, Maldives is not much far from Bangalore" may be the next pitch by travel agencies and tour operators.

With sun, sand and surf and all the palms you want swaying in balmy breezes, this cluster of 1198 islands is all set to attract information technology professionals of this city, always looking for new vacation spots.

The good thing about Maldives is that almost hundred of its islands have resorts of international standard hosting vacationers from the West.

Now they are being projected as the ideal vacation spot. Male can be reached in just two hours by an Indian flight from here.

Maldives Deputy Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Abdul Hameed Zakariyya, who was here recently, said beginning with Bangalore, the Maldives Tourism Promotion Board would have a number of promo events in Indian cities. Both India and Maldives had enjoyed a close and friendly relationship for ages and exchanges in tourism would enhance this relationship, he added.

In touch

Maldives was in close touch with Indian tour operators and would have special packages to offer keeping in mind the tastes of Indian tourists, he said.

There are 88 islands in Maldives with full-fledged resorts, together offering 18,000 beds and 35 more are to be added soon with 7,000 more beds.

Maldives has been promoting itself as a tourism destination since the 1970s. The proximity factor is expected to be an advantage for tourists from India.