JOALI Maldives has been awarded the Best Resort of the Year at this year’s Tourism Awards Function.

Nestled in Muravandhoo island of Raa atoll, JOALI was crowned Best Resort of the Year at the National Tourism Day Gala and Maldives Tourism Awards Function held at the Social Center on Thursday.

The event was held by the Ministry of Tourism to mark Tourism Day 2023.

The Gala Night was attended by government officials, foreign dignitaries, and industry stakeholders alongside award nominees.

Eminent personalities in the tourism industry were honored with awards at the gala night held to celebrate the National Tourism Day.

JOALI Maldives resort, unveiled during October 2018 was awarded the Best Resort of the Year. A 45-minute flight from the capital Malé City, JOALI features 73 private beach and water villas and residences.

Ocean Group Private Limited was awarded Best Water Sports Center, with Rasdhoo Divers Kuramathi having won the Best Divers Center at the awards and Voyage Maldives Private Limited bagging the award for Best Travel Agency.

Nominations for 59 awards were invited from five categories, for this year’s awards.

During the nomination window, 88 individuals had sent in 225 applications in the multiple categories out of which 31 received awards at Thursday’s event.

This year’s tourism awards introduced a whole new “Tourism Professionals Award” category as well, for which awards were given to those who met the eligibility criteria in different ways.

Taking the podium at the event, Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom expressed confidence that the tourism master plan for the next five years, will take the tourism industry of Maldives to new heights.

He added that with the help of this plan, more Maldivians will be welcomed to the tourism sector and bed capacity will also be increased.

The government launched its fifth Tourism Master Plan which places high priority in achieving the target noted including increasing bed nights. The tourism master plan carries the purpose of developing the tourism sector and increasing services provided to tourists by the country.

The government also plans to expand tourism across the scatter of islands comprising the Maldives.

Tourism was introduced in the Maldives in 1972. It has been 50 years since zealous travelers have been visiting the Maldives which has been drawing in visitors with its picturesque beauty for years.