The newly passed tourism tax bill imposes a sales of tax of 3.5% on all services rendered by travel agencies. Additionally the same percentage is imposed on services provided in the resorts, a total of staggering 7% Sales Tax from tourists' pocket.
In sale of holiday packes well established agencies keep a margin of 10% inclusive of profit and all expenditure, this is for an average hotel. Gross profit margin for high end packages fall much below 10% and growing companies normally earn just eno...
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Suppose you were in the management team of Kurumba Maldives, what would you say to tourists who enquire about the recent strike? How did they manage this strike? Can the strike be an advantage for marketing?
Recently Maldives local news reported of a strike being taken place at Kurumba Maldives, a 5 star resort that is famous for its long history as first resort to born in Maldives. The resort claimed all tourists had fled away into other resorts and overseas. But, the Tourism Employees Associa...
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I am an undergraduate student studying hospitality management in an island in Malaysia. I did my higher diploma in 2006 and was working ever since. I held a managerial position at a Universal Resort for about 3 years. For me it is a great concern to hear strike in tourism industry, even when I am not working it still matters to hear.
In Maldives the resorts are isolated and separated from inhabited islands by sea. The employees don't have access to resources elsewhere other than what is provid...
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Human Resources Management and Personnel Management are two similar terms referred in context of managing people, workforce or employees. The origin of managing people can be traced back to the concern about exploitation of people working in factories; the companies realised that people and their knowledge is the only source of sustainable competitive advantage, as other resources related to materials, equipment, technology, finances etc. have proved short lived in the absence of human capital c...
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It's being really a long time since my last post. I can see some posts have even got missing in the move between my old and new hosting provider. In my last post (which is now missing) I wrote about how I came to switch to studies. The basic reason was the economic recession.
Now, I'm starting with my research proposal and I would like to base it to Maldives. I have some topics in mind and thought of sharing this with friends and other fellow bloggers. Anyone could give me a better idea or a co...
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Kulhudhuffushi Member of Parliament (MP) submits a bill to the parliament on enforcing the banks to give study loans of at least MRF15 million annually, collectively MRF90 million per year from 6 banks operating in Maldives. According to the draft, loans range from MRF57,000 to MRF500,000 and repayment starts 6 months after completion of studies, with a repayment period of 10 - 15 years. Interest rates can go upto 8%. The government guarantees 60% of the loan and remaining 40% by the student.
I...
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Do you think it's a revolutionary new style to walk with your laptop? Would it be easier to carry this way? Would people notice if you walk this style? First, let me tell you what this picture is about.
Adamo is a high class ultra-thin laptop recently introduced by Dell. If you visit Adamo's home page, you will be inspired by a series of these new styles. It has got the pride of being world's thinnest laptop presently in the market. The glass screen and extra battery life on top of its finely...
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If you were at a tourism college you might have heard of tourism being multi-dimensional. But, have you ever heard of earthquake debris being converted to a tourism product?
Chinese province of Suchian was hit by a deadly earthquake measured 8.0 magnitude on 12th May 2008. Thousands of people were killed and many were buried both alive and dead underneath building collapses as per reports. The tragedy capsized lives of the province with no hope for generations to come.
Suchian Tourism Bureau h...
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My friend and I went to Dolphin Cafe for a drink. That day was so hot and evening was warm too. So, I wanted to go for something cold. My friend ordered an energy drink and I chose a Granini blackcurrant. It didn't take too long to relax me in the breeze of open-air terrace. By then, I had only few sip left in the glass.
The empty glass with some left out sips looked nicely wrapped in pale red around. So, I asked my friend if he could render some light with his mobile phone while I took the s...
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My home was located not far from Thoiba Mosque. So, I always went there for prayers, though not all. This morning I had the first prayer on New Year and I saw something new afterwards. When I was leaving the mosque it was this pair of home-made slippers that caught my attention. At first I thought it was some kind of security the guy has put on and then I came to wonder how the man would walk as there was no straps in it. Even if he was carrying the straps in his pocket there must be a place ...
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