The Maldives received the World’s Leading Destination award at the Grand Final of the World Travel Awards 2020 announced at a virtual event held late on November. This is the first time Maldives won the award in the history of the island nation, which is also the most distinguished award category of World Travel Awards. The Maldives competed in this category with 22 other destinations including Dubai, Malaysia, Spain, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka.

World Travel Awards, established in 1993, is the most prestigious honours program in the global travel and tourism industry recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence. It serves to acknowledge, reward, and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. Maldives receiving such an esteemed recognition during the most challenging of times faced by the tourism industry has never been more important.

Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, Minister of Tourism, the Maldives said: “Maldives winning World’s Leading Destination award is a strong endorsement of the popularity of Maldives amongst international tourists. This superb win reflects the strong determination and sound policies of HEP Solih and his administration, strive and strides of travel and tourism industry partners and employees; targeted #VisitMaldives promotion by industry partners and MMPRC and of course the warm smile of Maldivians. Congratulations!”

Maldives was also nominated for 40 categories at the Grand Final with eight nominations in destinations category, 53 nominations for 30 categories in Hotels and Resorts and three nominations for three world categories competing with world class destinations, with several tourist establishments winning in these categories. These awards are:

• World’s Leading New Resort 2020: Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa
• World’s Leading Luxury Island Resort 2020: The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
• World’s Leading Luxury Island Villas 2020: Baros Maldives
• World’s Leading Honeymoon Resort 2020: JA Manafaru
• World’s Leading Water Villa Resort 2020: Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa
• World’s Leading Seaplane Operator 2020: Trans Maldivian Airway
• World’s Leading Airport Resort 2020: Hulhule Island Hotel

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maldives as a whole and the travel and tourism industry was hit hard, and it caused an unprecedented level of disruption. As the lockdown began, the marketing plans of the government’s national tourism body, VisitMaldives came to a complete halt, and the campaigns had to be shifted to digital platforms; all travel and tourism partners began adapting to the new situation. The means of communication changed, but it enhanced the way for a more effective channel between agents, partners, and customers across various key markets.

Efforts and planning for the reopening of borders were made with the contribution of the entire industry, where an emphasis was given on the unique geographical formation of Maldivian islands, and the key USP of one-island-one-resort concept. These characteristics make Maldives a relatively safe destination and a safe haven for visitors. The rest of the world was constantly being made aware of the safety measures and important procedures in place for tourists, which came with the reopening of borders on 15th July 2020.

Visit Maldives, alongside industry stakeholders and partners, continued working tirelessly to assure tourists of this, and keep them dreaming about the destination. Several marketing activities and campaigns were launched, providing a platform for tourists from around the world to relive the happiness and rediscover the wonders of Maldives.

All in all, Visit Maldives has carried out over 412 different types of marketing activities in 22 global markets. 314 activities were carried out during this pandemic as part of the crisis recovery plan; some of these include fairs (online as well as offline), webinars, FAM trips, online roadshows, outdoor campaigns, digital media campaigns and more.

Despite the challenges over the course of the year, this accomplishment is a remarkable testament of the love of tourists from around the world, as well as the massive effort and continuous contribution made by each and every one of the stakeholders, in order to revive and restore the industry in Maldives.

Speaking on behalf of Visit Maldives, Mr. Thoyyib Mohamed, Managing Director, expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude to everyone who voted for Maldives and the tourism industry stakeholders. He said: “We are beyond thrilled to receive the World’s Leading Destination award for the first time in the history of Maldives. This prestigious award means a lot to Maldives, especially as we achieved this during these difficult times. Thank you everyone who voted for us. And thank you to the travel industry partners for the immense work carried out to accomplish this.  I would like to thank His Excellency President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for the support and close guidance especially in the recovery process of the nation and the tourism industry”.

World Travel Awards has reported a record number of visitor traffic and engagement from public voters. This shows that as travel resumes in the world and the tourism sector recovers, the appetite for travel has never been greater. Tourists are constantly seeking the very best tourism products from across the world, and as Maldives is now the World’s leading Destination, it is a pivotal moment to market the country as one of the safest and top travel destinations in the world.

The Maldives has also won 4 awards in the Indian Ocean category at World Travel Awards, attesting to this. These categories are Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination 2020, Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2020, Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2020 and Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination 2020. The destination has also won the famed Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination award 12 times within the last 16 years, this year being the 13th time.

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Face masks are 2020’s new fashion statement. Yes, face masks have now gone mainstream. We don’t wear fancy shoes, new clothes or even make up these days when we go out .With number of options right now, face masks are 2020’s new fashion statement. Cotton fabric mask, triple layer mask in a breathable fabric, masks with cartoons for kids, with catchy messages for youngsters, fashionable ones that match our outfits, there are variety of face masks with different styles. It is interesting to see how something that’s associated with one of the greatest tragedies of humanity has become a style statement.

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They are no more show pieces, they are women of substance Though the old women actors have stayed out of India’s raging politics and controversies the new gen actresses have changed that trend. In the past, the senior actresses might have found it hard to directly express what they felt because of the fear of facing threats and abuses for speaking their minds in the patriachal society. But the women celebrities have now come a long way and never shield away from lending their voices for important causes. They are trying their own way to make a difference in the Indian society.

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“Unfinished” is a collection of personal essays, stories and observations of the 38-year-old actor, to be published by Penguin Random House India.

Priyanka took to Twitter and said the book comes from an extremely personal, introspective space.

“‘Unfinished’ is finished! Just about sent in the final manuscript! Wheee! Cannot wait to share it with you all. Every word in my memoir comes from a place of introspection and reflection into my life. #ComingSoon,” she wrote.

Priyanka forayed into the entertainment industry at the age of 17 when she became Miss India and went on to win Miss World the following year.

Besides acting in several Bollywood movies such as Aitraaz, Barfi! , 7 Khoon Maaf and Bajirao Mastani , Priyanka earned acclaim for her work as Alex Parrish on ABC’s show “Quantico”, becoming the first South Asian to headline an American network drama series.

She made her Hollywood debut as antagonist Victoria Leeds in Seth Gordon’s action comedy Baywatch and followed it up with A Kid Like Jake co-starring Jim Parsons and Claire Danes.

Priyanka also had a supporting part in Todd Strauss-Schulson’s comedy “Isn’t It Romantic”, which starred Rebel Wilson.

Last year she returned to Hindi cinema with Shonali Bose’s The Sky is Pink.

The actor’s future projects include Netflix’s adaptation of Aravind Adiga’s satirical novel The White Tiger, Robert Rodriguez’s superhero film We Can Be Heroes , thriller series Citadel and much-anticipated Matrix 4 .

Priyanka also has a production banner Purple Pebble Pictures, under which she produces global TV and film content.

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Something that has been associated with one of the greatest tragedies of humanity has become a style statement. And Indian designers are coming up with some colourful face masks to fight the coronavirus with positivity.

Mumbai-based designer, Masaba Gupta developed her own line of fashionable face-masks. Coal India Limited has distributed 8.1 lakh masks to its employees and people living in and around its operations with its logo.

Similarly, Subway India has introduced its logo with a face mask accompanied by a ‘Stay Safe’ message. And Zomato’s new brand logo wears a face mask which says ‘Stay safe, Be a mask kalandar’.

Delhi Public School has branded masks for all its pupils with the school logo prominently displayed as a badge of honour.

The video report below gives a round-up of masks in vogue in India now.

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The number of visitors will be limited, meanwhile, face mask are compulsory for the children aged over 11. Guests will also have to use the stairs since lifts are out of use until July 1. Only eight people will be allowed into the elevators at a time.

The tower, completed in 1889, receives about seven million visitors every year – approximately three-quarters of them from abroad – according to its website.

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Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi’s presidential palace that is a unique cultural and architectural landmark in the UAE capital, has been nominated by World Travel Awards as the Middle East’s Leading Cultural Tourist Attraction 2020.
Qasr Al Watan means ‘Palace of the Nation’ and is part of the four-year-old, nearly 100-acre Presidential Palace, located on a peninsula at one end of the city’s iconic Corniche. It houses the formal offices of the UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan,the Vice-President and Dubai Ruler HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It is the official meeting place for the UAE Cabinet and the Federal Supreme Council.
The Palace, which was first opened to the public in March 2019,had shut its doors on March 14, 2020 owing to the nationwide fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of the “working palace” remains closed to the public; the 10 zones that were opened to the public include the library, which has a collection of 50,000 books collected over 35 years,and the Great Hall, which has a dome that is 37 metres in diameter.
There is a 12-ton chandelier in the Spirit of Collaboration hall which hosts the Arab League and GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) summits. Made up of 350,000 crystals,the chandelier had to be assembled in place.The palace,surrounded by lush, manicured gardens, took 150 million man hours to build. Inspired by Mughal architecture,its facade was constructed of white granite and limestone.

According to a palace tour guide, the palace’s pastel colours have a special significance.The three main colours — blue,yellow and white — represent a certain characteristic of the UAE. The blue stands for the Arabian Gulf waters, the yellow for the Arabian sands and the white represents purity and peace.
Qasr Al Watan’s 300-seat banquet hall, laid with 149,000 hand-engraved pieces of fine bone china tableware, is also open to public gazing. A palace and garden ticket, which gives access to all public spaces, inside and out, costs Dh60 for an adult and Dh30 for children aged 4-17 years. A garden-only ticket gives access to grounds and visitor centre and costs Dh25 for adults and Dh12 for minors.
Qasr Al Watan thus represents a first-of-its-kind insight into the Arab heritage and the governing principles that shaped the history of the UAE and its vision to the future. The palace, which is an enriching journey in a contemporary setting that reveals and reflects on governance, knowledge and craftsmanship of the UAE, deserves the prestigious award.

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The actress teamed up with volunteer-based non-governmental organisation – The Robin Hood Army- to help the underprivileged with footwear. The actress reached out to over 1000 labourers in and around Ghaziabad in Murad Nagar, Govindpuram, Vijay Nagar, and distributed footwear across age-groups.

Bhumi pledge to contribute supplies, food, essentials and other such materials to the poor migrants during the lockdown. The actress also used her social media handles to request her fans to also reach out anytime to help the “vulnerable” in distress in fight against coronavirus.

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