The Islandchief

15/06/2026

THE OZEN COLLECTION Among the Finest: One Review, One Rating, One Unforgettable Stay at a Time

Tripadvisor has named OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI and OZEN LIFE MAADHOO among the top 10% percent of hotels worldwide in its annual Travellers' Choice Awards.

15/06/2026

mFaisaa Announces PayPal Integration, Enabling Maldivians to Seamlessly Receive USD Payments from Around the World

Ooredoo Fintech has extended PayPal services in the Maldives through an integration with mFaisaa, Ooredoo’s digital wallet, announced today at a ceremony held at Barcelo Nasandhura

15/06/2026

Joy Island Maldives Celebrates Global Wellness Day with a Record-Breaking Floating Breakfast Experience

Joy Island Maldives transformed Global Wellness Day into an unforgettable celebration of well-being, connection, and island living, bringing together wellness experiences, healthy cuisine, and joyful moments in a day designed to nourish the mind, body, and soul.

15/06/2026

Dhiraagu Launches ‘Pitch for Purpose’ to Empower Employees to Drive Community Impact

Dhiraagu has launched Pitch for Purpose, a first-of-its-kind employee-driven CSR initiative at Dhiraagu that empowers employees to propose and pitch CSR initiatives that support communities in Maldives.

15/06/2026

Visit Maldives Concludes Media Familiarisation Trip with Alpitour World

Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC), in collaboration with Alpitour World, successfully concluded a media familiarisation (FAM) trip in the Maldives for a group of leading Italian journalists representing prominent lifestyle, travel, and fashion publications.

15/06/2026

Australia Backs Sri Lanka’s Data-Driven Tourism Transformation

Australian High Commissioner Matthew Duckworth has reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s efforts to strengthen evidence-based governance, emphasizing that accurate and reliable data remains the cornerstone of effective policy-making for tourism.

15/06/2026

From Shipwreck to Living Reef: Siyam World Launches Wreck to Reef, an Annual Ocean Conservation Initiative Under Sun Siyam Cares

At Siyam World Maldives, has unveiled one of the newest and most exciting wreck dives in the Maldives.

15/06/2026

Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru Join Hands with Local Community for World Environment Day 2026

In celebration of World Environment Day, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru joined hands with the local community of Dhiffushi

15/06/2026

Wellness, Connection, and Joy Bring Together Nine Ele|na Sanctuaries on Global Wellness Day

ELE|NA celebrated Global Wellness Day 2026 by uniting its nine wellness sanctuaries across the Maldives under the theme , a global call to embrace wellness as a source of joy, connection, and vitality.

14/06/2026

For more than two decades, Shifau Umar has been at the forefront of one of the Maldives’ most distinctive tourism experiences, Whale Submarine Maldives. Having joined the company as a Pilot Trainee in 2000 and risen through the ranks to become General Manager, his journey is a testament to dedication, resilience, and a passion for innovation in marine tourism.

In this edition of The Islandchief, Shifau reflects on his career, the evolution of submarine tourism in the Maldives, memorable underwater encounters, and his vision for the future of underwater experiences, while also sharing valuable advice for young Maldivians looking to explore careers in tourism and marine operations beyond traditional pathways.

Read the full edition here: https://islandchief.com/epaper