Tag: Chris de Burgh

Authorities hail Maldives World Tourism Awards ceremony as industry “milestone”

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has claimed the Maldives’  selection as host for the Indian Ocean World Travel Awards (WTA) ceremony next month is a “milestone” in the 40 year history of the nation’s holiday industry.

Deputy Tourism Minister Mohamed Maleeh Jamal said the ceremony, which will take place at the Paradise Island Resort and Spa in North Male’ Atoll on May 12, paves the way for further high-profile events to be held in the Maldives in future.

Maleeh told Minivan News that hosting the WTA, described by the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC) as the “Oscars” of the global tourism industry, would open up a wealth of opportunities for event hosting at resorts and other facilities in the country.

MICE tourism

He added that the ceremony would send a message to the world that the country was able to provide meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions (MICE) tourism in a luxury and private setting that was unique from other destinations.

“Over the past 40 years, we have been known as a honeymooners spot, a surf spot and a luxury holiday destination. This will add another area for the industry,” the deputy tourism minister said.

Maleeh said that with the MICE tourism segment last year valued as a trillion US Dollar business segment, securing even a small proportion of the market would be a welcome boost to the country’s tourism industry.

Arrivals to the country were found to have posted double-digit growth during the first quarter of 2013 over the same period last year.

The results were a notable improvement on arrivals recorded during the first three months of 2012, which were negatively impacted by global headlines focused on political turmoil following the controversial transfer of power that brought the current government to office in February the same year.

Considering the number of resorts with conference facilities already operating in the Maldives, Maleeh praised the potential for MICE tourism in the Maldives, despite adding that the industry was very much at a “starting point” in the country.

However, in addressing challenges such as logistics that have previously limited event hosting to areas surrounding Male’, Maleeh claimed that the emergence of a number of regional airports around the country would open up a wider number of properties and businesses to potentially benefit.

“Event-based tourism will also see growing amounts of business for local companies as well, such as for lighting specialists and performers,” he added.

Beyond next month’s ceremony, Maleeh said that senior representatives from the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) were also scheduled to travel to the Maldives in September for a special panel discussion.  The event was similarly anticipated to boost the country’s reputation for event hosting, according to the tourism ministry.

Eventful past

Outside of the Maldives resort industry, some local promotion groups have previously complained that challenges still remain in trying to bring high-profile events and entertainment to the wider country.

Back in November, 2012, a concert by Chris de Burgh – the singer/songwriter famed for the 1980′s global super-hit ‘Lady in Red’ – attracted 1500 people to Galolhu National Stadium in Male’.

Organisers claimed at the time the event was one of the largest shows of its kind held in the Maldives over the last decade, especially considering ongoing difficulties in securing international artists to play in the archipelago nation.

The team behind the event claimed the concert was therefore an important step towards paving the way for world famous artists to perform in the country.

Mohamed Shinan, event coordinator with local promotion company Think Advertising, said the Maldives has traditionally struggled to cover the fees of high-profile performers when trying to bring concerts to the Maldives.

However, Shinan said that organisers had been happy with the eventual turnout for the concert.

“Including the sizable audience in the standing section, we estimate some 1,500 people were in attendance, which is not bad for an artist like Chris de Burgh. Most young people only know him for the one song.”

Two months earlier, the organisers of the 2012 Hotel Asia Exhibition and International Culinary Challenge held at Male’s Dharubaaruge conference centre claimed they were at maximum capacity in terms of the number of regional and international exhibitors in attendance.

Husnie Rauf, Senior Manager of Maldives Exhibition and Conference Services (MECS), said the company had been “surprised” by the interest shown from exhibitors taking part in the annual show, which attempts to link the country’s secluded resort industry and local hotel trade with “world class” suppliers.

Over the last three years, the Maldives has played host to several high-profile regional and international events including the 17th SAARC Summit in Addu City, and the Hay Festival Maldives, held at the presidential retreat of Aarah back in October 2010.

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Ladies (and men) in red take to Male’ as Chris de Burgh plays capital

A concert by Chris de Burgh, the singer/songwriter famed for 1980’s global super-hit ‘Lady in Red’, attracted 1500 people to Galolhu National Stadium in Male’ on Sunday night.

Organisers claimed the event was one of the largest shows of its kind held in the Maldives over the last decade, following ongoing difficulties in securing international artists to play in the archipelago nation.

De Burgh played a two-hour set that included several renditions of ‘Lady in Red’, along with old and new material focusing on love, loss, encounters with dolphins, adverse weather patterns and political revolution – some tunes seemingly more relevant to the Maldives than others.

De Burgh played to an audience of local spectators, expatriates, MPs, cabinet members and President Mohamed Waheed Hassan, as well as several ladies – and men – in red.

Event organisers have claimed that the concert is an important step towards paving the way for world famous artists to perform in the country.

Mohamed Shinan, event coordinator with local promotion company Think Advertising, said the Maldives has traditionally struggled to cover the fees of high-profile performers when trying to bring concerts to the Maldives.

Shinan added that the concert – the second of two de Burgh performances in the country over the last week – was a result of collaboration with promoters based in Germany.

“For us, this was partly about creating a platform to bring more stars to the Maldives. We have plans to bring much bigger bands in future,” he promised.

After the failure of several attempts to bring international performers to the Maldives over the last 5-6 years, Shinan said it was important to ensure the concert went ahead so as to secure other foreign artists in the future.

“Many raised questions as to whether Chris de Burgh would really come,” he said. “As a local promoter, we had to make sure it did happen.”

Organisers told Minivan News that ticket sales up to the day of the concert had proven quite slow, although picked up hours before the concert took place.  Shinan said remaining seats, which sold for between MVR 750 (US$48) to MVR 400 (US$26), were given to members of the public in the MVR 100 (US$6) standing section to ensure 1,150 seats provided were taken up.

“We decided to fill up the seats so the artist could see all his support from the stage,” he said. “Including the sizable audience in the standing section, we estimate some 1,500 people were in attendance, which is not bad for an artist like Chris de Burgh. Most young people only know him for the one song -‘Lady in Red’.”

Event organisers said it was important to try and show that the Maldives was a peaceful place for tourists after a year of negative media coverage, following political turmoil throughout the year – as well as to please de Burgh’s local fans.

Among key sponsors of the event, the Maldives tourism industry’s slogan, “The sunny side of life” was also adorned on promotional material and tickets.   Shinan also praised Tourism Minister Ahmed Adheeb for his assistance with setting up the concert. “He played an important part to make this a success,” Shinan added.

The concert commenced at around 9:00pm. The audience – a good-natured though at times muted group, embraced each song with enthusiastic applause, before de Burgh entered the crowd promising “a little romance” with a rendition of ‘Lady in Red’.

As he walked among the audience, the crowd suddenly became animated with a large number making their way up to the Irish balladeer for photo opportunities and to get close to a man was proudly proclaims to have sold an estimated 45 million albums worldwide.

One member of the audience dressed in red and caught up in the apparent excitement was expatriate teacher Laura Fryer, who was attending the concert with friends as part of birthday celebrations.

“As Chris De Burgh came into the audience and sang, I got a bit serenaded, but then so did a few others,” she said, describing her brief encounter with the singer as “good fun”.

Fryer, who has worked in the Maldives for several months, observed that the majority of the country’s musical performances were held at resorts rather than in the capital or on inhabited islands, limiting local access to the events.

Despite the popularity of traditional art-forms such as boduberu – a combination of singing, dancing and rhythmic drumming – dancing and music venues in the country have dwindled in recent years.

Between songs on Sunday night, de Burgh pondered the “mysteries of women”, the impact of reality talent shows on stage dancing, a hatred of headset microphones, and the relevance of his song ‘Waiting for the hurricane’ in light of the super storm that struck parts of the US and Haiti last month, killing over 60 people.

As the evening drew to a close, audience members were invited to the front of the stage and dance to several songs, including a medley of de Burgh’s hits and another full performance of ‘Lady in Red’ – after significant audience pressure for an encore.

Mohamed Naseem, a local activist who attended the concert, told Minivan News that de Burgh had put on a good show and said he was happy to part with his MVR 100.

“I liked it,” he said, enthusiastically.

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Chris de Burgh to perform in Maldives

Singer-songwriter Chris de Burgh, famous for the 1986 love song ‘Lady in Red’, arrived in the Maldives on Wednesday for a performance in Sun Island Resort and a show in Male’ on the night of November 4.

Private broadcaster Villa TV – owned by Jumhooree Party Leader and MP Gasim Ibrahim, chairman of the Villa Group, which also operates Sun Island – reported that the show in Male’ will take place at the Galolhu stadium and tickets are available for MVR750, 550 and 400 from the seated rows.

Tickets from rows without seats are available for MVR100, according to local event manager Think Association. Tickets are being sold from Le Cute, Sea House, Oxygen Cafe’, Symphony Restaurant and Pop Joy.

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