Olialia, the Lithuanian company planning to operate a resort in the Maldives exclusively staffed by blondes, claims to have shortlisted a handful of islands in the country to house its proposed platinum paradise as the group now faces the challenge of making the project a reality in a strictly Islamic nation.
Olialia executives traveled to Cannes in France last week to present the island of blondes concept to entrepreneurs at the concept during the Marché International des Professionnels d’Immobilier (MIPIM) 2011 real estate trade show.
Brand Manager Giedre Pukiene has claimed talks were held with 10 to 12 potential investors for the project as it finalises plans for its venture in the Maldives, including representatives of US property tycoon Donald Trump.
“All buildings will reflect the blondes’ spirit and world-view. Hotels, restaurants and service centres services will be provided by the best known world’s companies; we will soon start accepting applications,” stated Pukiene.
Olialia uses attractive blonde women to market an entire business empire including airliners, soft drinks, dairy products and publishing, under the adage that blondes not only have more fun, but also make more money for stockholders. It has now set its sights on operating a resort in the Maldives by 2015, run by its trademark platinum-topped staff.
As news of the “island of blondes” project has spread, the potential resort development has raised huge interest, and perhaps a few eyebrows, across international media – not to mention the local population, who are invariably dark-haired.
Speaking to Minivan News, the resort’s Project Manager Vilte Zukauskaite insisted that any concerns over the viability of a staff system based on hair colour in a country where labour laws require at least 50 percent employment of locals, would be overcome by Olialia and its partners.
This was an issue that could be dealt with practically, according to Zukauskaite.
“The resort is not so much a ‘blonde concept’ – although all the staff will be blonde, we will not necessarily make them wear wigs,” she said. “Non-blonde hair has to not be visible. So male staff could shave their heads. Hats or scarves that cover the head could also be worn.”
Tourist heads in the Maldives have confirmed that talks had been held with representatives from the blonde-focused company, and that proposals would be considered based on the effectiveness of the business plan, rather than its target audience or marketing.
However, the country’s Ministry of Arts, Tourism and Culture did stress that work laws requiring 50 percent local employment could be problematic.
But Zukauskaite explained that there were also opportunities for more ‘behind the scenes’ and less-visible roles for staff on the island that would allow the company to navigate legal requirements to ensure local staff were given opportunities at the site.
Zukauskaite said the company was now moving to finalise the company’s plans, and had identified “three or four” existing properties that could be bought and re-branded by the Lithuanian firm.
“At the moment the company is deciding on three options to develop the island; these included purchasing a virgin – undeveloped – mass of land, buy an existing resort and rebrand it, or create a man-made structure (such as a previously revealed high-heeled shoe design).
Photos of the proposed shoe development was met with consternation from several marine biologists working in the Maldives.
“I don’t know if I should laugh about it or cry about the degradation of human species,” said one, after seeing the images.
Zukauskaite said that while Olialia was yet to confirm its plans officially, “we believe the best and fastest route to getting the island would be re-branding an existing hotel,” she said.
Zukauskaite claimed that the “Island of Blondes” had been designed to be a unique business model, both on an international basis, as well as in the Maldives, where she claimed the focus on high-profile entertainment and cultural activities was limited.
The resort would develop many optional entertainment opportunities for its guests, Zukauskaite said, with plans for the resort to hold gallery exhibitions and performances from major international artists that she said would help spread the Maldives’ reputation as a luxury destination worldwide.
However, the project manager said that the ‘blonde-only’ policy for staff would not always dictate the type of acts performing there, and “formerly-blonde” superstars “such as Sting and Rod Stewart” would be free to perform on the island.
“Perhaps blonde can become grayer for a few days,” she added.
The Maldives’ tourism industry has always existed parallel to the country’s conservative and religious society, with the latter generally kept separate from the lucrative resort island business. Zukauskaite downplayed potential concerns that the blonde island could be seen by locals as an inappropriate development in the country. Like all of the country’s resorts, the “Island of Blondes” would be very separate from the legal and cultural regulations adopted on the country’s inhabited islands.
“It is a resort island, we’re not building it in Male’,” she said.
Olialia would, she said, act with respect for local traditions, and that she did not believe that local cultural traditions were a barrier.
“We shouldn’t call this a problem, we aim to treat the Maldives with all due respect,” she added.
Zukauskaite said that the company had already begun consulting with officials in the country and that it would be working alongside the owners of the resort it eventually picked to develop the “Island of Blondes” as its local partner.
Dr Mariyam Zulfa, Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, confirmed that she had held some meetings with representatives from Olialia about the project, but said that she had not been made aware of their more recent plans.
Like any tourism project bought to the Maldives, Dr Zulfa said the company would be required to ensure it met its obligations under the laws and regulations outlined by the labour, tourism and environmental ministries.
When asked by Minivan News if there were potential concerns that the Island of Blondes project would potentially offend local sensitivities, she responded that this was a media supposition and that the ministry was not in a position to dictate how companies marketed their products.
“The government has no role in determining the parameters of companies looking to invest in the Maldives,” she said. “If it is a good project with a viable business model we will welcome it. The only possible difficulty is that the local population are not blonde.”
Dr Zulfa suggested that this difficulty was an issue of uniform, and that had been addressed at a number of tourism properties.
If Olilia’s resort development eventually moves forward, Zukauskaite said the world would be hearing a lot more from the “Island of blondes” with an upcoming reality show set to be filmed from the island once construction was underway.
“The main aim we wanted to achieve in Cannes was to create a huge buzz for the project,” she added. “I think we have done that.”
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Welcome to The Island of Blondes- the only island for Addalath party members!
Welcome to The Island of Blondes- the only island for secularist f**kers!
Here comes trouble !!!!!
dear neil merret, something i noticed both in this article and in a recent article about an artists' camp in Addu:
- that you seem to assume a position whereby there is an active Islamic vigilante to disrupt and destroy everything - art, open business, etc. In fact Minister Zulfa has termed as such.
Is it a limitation or a genuine way to introduce a twist? If you overuse it, your writings maybe too mediocre and flat for a good read.
Thanks,
hasan
Donald Trump needs to check this out if he plans to keep up with Lady Gaga, it is NOT a spoof,, Lady Gaga says she is going to run for president in 2012
http://www.thespoof.com/news/magazine/inquiry_lady_gaga_replied_shes_going_to_run_for_president_8705.htm
Welcome to The Island of Blondes- the only island for dumb faith heads who knows nothing but filth and can be easily provoked.
Why don't the Lithuanians build this crap in their own country? Who in their right minds would be remotely interested in this resort? The stupidity of this 'concept' defies description. Who the hell is interested in blondes anyway?
what difference does it make?
what difference does it make i think your not ok tx
what does it make i think your not ok tx
Its ironic how suddenly such a sexist concept becomes acceptable in a time when we talk about women's rights.
No wonder in the world over few blonds confirm the sexist view of all boobs and no brains. Well why not capitalize on their natural assets.
This should never happen, and this is going too far in the name of tourism. If this happens, there will be bigger issues in the further which will be impossible to handle. Our culture, religion, values will be gone for ever.
i think we should go to lithuania and start introducing motel industry there with only blacks...hmmm well its not a biggy deal if blodes want to work they can dye hair dark color or shave and wear caps scarf..etc or may be they can work work in back office departments and blacks work in the front line...blacks not only are beutiful but can also generate lot of profits hahahahahahahhahaha funny stuff huh kekekeke
So this basically means that no Maldivian will be employed by the resort? I thought there was a regulation whereby every resort must have a certain percentage of Maldivians as employees.
I suppose it's an okay place for Zakir Naik and his gang to take an 'all expenses paid' vacation, courtesy of the ministry of islamic affairs.
@ Ahmed Aliased
cant u writing anything without including the religion factor in it? wow, talk about obsessive compulsive disorder.
The world is controlled by "WHITES". Earlier we realize this fact the better.
seriously, a more appropriate title would be Island of Bimbos. most of the world's miss worlds and miss universes have been brunette, not blonde. no self respecting maldivian will allow this sexist concept to come to fruition in this country. they should do this in their own blonde loving country, or continent for that matter. why come here?
oooh please build a resort with hot african americans? their women are well endowed unlike these stick insects and their men are smoking hot. any blondes can shave their heads, male or female. thos concept is stupid and degrading to women. tourism ministry should be ashamed, especially being headed by a woman to even conider this madness!
@Aliased clan wannabe: I'm right? Aren't I? They call for us to get rid of our entertainment, then go and have fun on banana boats.
Did I strike a raw nerve? Hmmm?. Your anger... your hatred is a most welcome tribute.
-
To those who're whining about 'having your religion sold'....
I'm sorry, but your religion has been sold since day one. The only reason Maldives is a 100% muslim country is to get oil handouts from OPEC.
And yet the previous regime saw it fit to trade it off to other dictators and keep 'em ticking.
Yea, your religion was sold for nothing more than keeping NON MUSLIM DICTATORS happy and well-fed in Burma.
Sorry, I know this is shocking, but it's the truth. How do you feel?
@ Ahmed Aliased
no point in arguing with a retard.
go get help for obsessive compulsive disorder!
Troll Guide pg13
Points to troll by.
3) If the opponent breaks down into ad hominem attacks, you have scored an instant win.
So, about islam being sold for oil handouts in Maldives - how do you feel about it?. Does it make you sad? Unhappy? Disillusioned? Or would you rather prefer to shoot the messenger and live in your little world of denial?.
And don't worry about offending me. I relish your anger. It is the fine garnish on the thick laughs of life.
Despite the presentation of this project the Maldives did not make the CREOpoint & KPMG ranking of areas creating the most #MIPIM online buzz
Executive summary including organisation rankings and commentary from Global Head of KPMG Real Estate Practice now available at http://j.mp/MIPIMBuzz and on www.CREOpoint.com
Um, has anyone stopped to question why people have such a problem with 'blonde haired' girls? Surely the very fact that the world is reacting in this negative and mindless way, is because they're adhering to the 'dumb blonde'stereotype!
Just because they look like playboy bunnies, doesn't mean they're any less able to be successful business people. If they cut their hair short, wore suits and stripped back the make-up, would they pass your business scale? Please, how narrow-minded. Brunettes, red-heads, black or white, who cares?! It's an entertainment resort...can't anyone see that this is just a big PR stunt to attract the world's attention. Seems to be working and money looks like it's flooding in. Maybe the blonde Baltics aren't as dumb as the world wants them to be?! What you see is not literally always what you get. Think for a second.
PS: I'm not blonde and not prejudice.
I hope that good hard working maldivians can have a great vacation there.
Only black headed maldivians aloud.
They have anyway not said that the people who shall visit the resort also have to be blondes.
I dont think girlfriends, fiancees, parents and children of those men who want to visit here will like the idea their boyfriend, fiancee, husband, son, or father find amusement in such a place. This idea is ridiculous and disrespect to Maldives and humanity.
The idea is extremely racist. The exclusivity promotes a stereo against blondes, and a bias against the rest. It promotes an image of Maldives thats unrealistic and is not reflective of its peoples.
Extremely unethical to have an entire corporation that exclusively hires one race.
Efforts must always be put into utilizing the tourism industry to enhance ous culture and promote it.this proposal is a ridiculous move away from everything an ethical industry anywhere.