Thai hotel chains: "Maldivian experience" worth the expense

Spending a holiday in Maldives may be expensive, but the quality of service more than makes up for the expense – say heads of Thailand hotel chains operating in Maldives.

Speaking in an interview with Sun Media and Public Service Media reporters in Bangkok, Thailand, the heads of major Thai multinational hotel chains noted that it was the ultimate dream of many to visit Maldives at least once in their lifetime.

“Thai tourists also say they want to visit Maldives at least once. But that the resorts are expensive,” said CEO of Onyx Group, Peter Henley.

Onyx Group owns Amari Havodda Maldives – a tourist resort located in G. Dh. Atoll.

CEO of Onyx Group, Peter Henley speaking to Maldivian reporters. - Sun photo

Henley said that he did not think Maldives is expensive, considering the value tourists get for their money. And that he had not heard one tourist, who had spent at least one holiday in Maldives complain the expense by the end of holiday.

“They would not return a second time if it’s expensive, would they? But we have noticed repeated visits. So tourists are happy with what they spend in Maldives,” he said.

Suparat Chirathivat, who is Vice President of Business Development for Centara International Management – a company which runs two resorts in Maldives and has plans to build five more within the next five years – also said that the Maldivian experience and hospitality was worth the expense to tourists.

Vice President of Business Development for Centara International Management, Suparat Chirathivat. - Sun photo

Hotel chains said that Maldives was uniquely beautiful, and that tourists were compelled to return back to the country.

The team of reports from Maldives met with heads of Thai hotel chains operating in Maldives – Minor Group, Centara, Dusit International and Onyx Group.