When it comes to vacations, the temptation of a crystal clear blue lagoon, seaplane trip and villas over edge-less water -- all the epitome of the Maldives -- is never out of fashion.
Back in the old days, a getaway in the Maldives was deemed a luxury for well-heeled couples.
Now, thanks to the boom of Maldivian tourism and convenient access to the archipelago country, a casual break in the heart of the Indian Ocean has become imaginable for everyone.
According to the Maldivian Ministry of Tourism, last year it received more than 1.6 million international tourists, nearly 16,000 of which were Thais. The number of Thai visitors has risen from just under 900 in 2021.
Today, there are more than 170 resorts, from budget guesthouses to luxurious 5-star hotels, scattered across the Republic of Maldives' chain of 26 atolls.
Freshly opened last month on Raa Atoll's Kudakurathu Island is the 187-room resort Amari Raaya.
Managed by Onyx Hospitality Group, Amari is one of a few Thai-owned resorts that have joined the booming Maldivian market.
"What we offer is a blend of pan-Asian and contemporary Thai hospitality with a little bit of Western twist," said Onyx chief executive officer Yuthachai Charanachitta. "As a small regional hotel management company trying to maintain our upscale positioning, this is a significant milestone for us."
The family-friendly resort aims to cater to a wide range of guests as Russians are currently the top nationality visiting the Maldives; Indians are at No.2, the Chinese at No.3 and the rest European.
Amari Raaya's general manager Rainer Steinhilber said: "We are just like the Maldives, we are open to all kinds of travellers."
The German GM, who has adopted Maldives as his home for the past 15 years, added: "The Maldives used to be seen as a high-end destination dominated by visitors from Europe, especially the UK. This has changed during the past decade thanks to the government's new strategy in widening and targeting other travellers.
"Many resorts have started to open up to kids and divers, as well as older generations of travellers by offering bigger rooms where guests can have more space and put extra beds.
Yuthachai Charanachitta.
"As a result, we are seeing different kinds of travellers coming to the Maldives, even budget travellers. Because a holiday in the Maldives is always everyone's dream."
According to Steinhilber, in 2018, some 20 resorts opened in the Maldives, compared to a total of less than 100 in the country in 2016. The peak for tourism in the Maldives came in 2019, but then Covid arrived. However, the country was quick to reopen.
"Tourism is the number one income of the Maldives, other than fishing. So if tourists don't come, there's no business at all," he explained. "Maldives being a one-island-one-resort destination, vacationing here is very private, plus the government did a great job with restriction and screening. So this was seen as a great option when people were able to start travelling again."
Even amid such impressive progress, the idyllic paradise, however, also has its challenges.
Yuthachai said: "The thing about the Maldives is it requires import of everything, from gasoline to food.
"So the challenge in the long run for pretty much every hotel and resort owner or operator here is how to be self-sufficient.
"Here at Amari Raaya, we do our own bottling for drinking water. The water used in the toilet comes from our desalination plant. Soon we're going to have some solar panels popping up.
"We also have to promote local sourcing and support local businesses. It is very important to coexist with locals, and uphold their ecosystem and well-being."
For a 37 hectare property encircled by nothing but 3km of beaches, providing guests with enough recreational activities is also a challenge.
"People look at the Maldives as a quiet place and relaxing stay. But these days most people tend to forget how to relax and ask, 'OK, what shall I do in one week on a small island where I can walk around in 20 minutes and by the second day I've seen everything?'," the Steinhilber said.
Thus, the resort is conceptualised as an island to discover.
"Other than all the 5-star facilities including spa, restaurants and bars, we also have a mangrove area where we have local plant experts who can tell you about the Maldives' fauna and flora," said Steinhilber.
"There's an artist zone where we highlight the local community and give them opportunities to work and showcase their culture."
The atoll also boasts a great dive site with an abundance of underwater life including an extensive coral reef.
"If you're honeymooners, we have several romantic places and special dining venues on the beach. If you're a family with kids, we have a great kid's club and sports facility which includes mini golf and skateboard park. And if you like upbeat vibes, we have a rooftop lounge equipped with a DJ station," Steinhilber said.
The Maldives is one of the safest places on Earth, according to Steinhilber.
"It is the nature of the Maldives. The sea is very calm, and there are no high waves. You don't have typhoons. There are no harmful creatures in the water," he said.
"The tranquillity and gentleness are also reflected in the characteristic of the people. The Maldives has never been occupied by anyone. For hundreds and hundreds of years, they were never conquered. They never had to fight.
"Anyone who came, there's nothing to take away from this island. Visitors came and left. That's why the people here are very hospitable and welcome everyone. The Maldivian blood is full of service, smiling and welcoming, like the Thai smile. They're timid sometimes, but very proud and very welcoming."
