Dubai, United Arab Emirates – There is an overwhelming feeling of uncertainty as to when life will get back to normal, with many facets of people’s lives changing drastically especially travel, which has once been considered as the ultimate mind re-setter and body recharger has become a source of worry with travellers wondering: how can we stay safe while taking a break?
Borders are slowly opening up for tourists, with a varying sentiment of certainty, and a rising questions of which destinations are the safest to visit. The Maldives stood out as a haven for travellers during a time when travel has been heavily restricted, its remote location and geographical nature has shielded it to some extent against the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus which has taken over most parts of the world, in addition to the rapid response taken by the Maldives Tourism Authority and the island resorts to help provide a safe and sustainable travel experience for both travellers and tourism establishments.
With a constantly changing list of rules and regulations, OV Holidays, a world leading Indian Ocean Leading Luxury Travel Concierge, provides travellers with an extensive guide to ensure a wholesome holiday with a worry-free experience, pairing their Indian Ocean expertise with a high-end services and packages shared with over 70 resort partners, ranging from short romantic escapes to a much needed family getaway, OV Holidays creates a tailor-made vacation based on the requests and needs of clients, while handling the logistical difficulties and confusion to ensure full compliance to the latest rules, regulations and health guidelines during the pandemic.
About the role of travel companies in ensuring safe travel, Mr. Shafraz Fazley, OV Holidays’ Managing Director, explains: “The travel landscape has changed significantly since the start of the pandemic, with countries introducing different safety measures depending on how safe it is for travellers to come in or out of it, and with these changes, it’s hard for travellers to remain updated to the latest regulations and rules, and might find them confusing most of the time, which is why using a travel company is an effective way to save time and effort and provide the peace of mind and ease of process to travellers to fully enjoy their vacation worry-free”.
Recognised as one of the next-gen travel leaders by TTG Asia in 2014, Shafraz Fazley has established OV Holidays along with the Viluxur Holdings Group as one Asia’s leading luxury travel consultancy, with a US$40 million annual turnover in the Maldives, and more than 100 team members across its five offices in Maldives, Sri Lanka, China, Philippines and Singapore.
“Our offerings go beyond providing travellers with a tailor-made luxury holiday, but also to ensure a private and safe sanctuary during these difficult times.” Said Shafraz Fazley, “we were established with the aim of giving the best experience for the best value and be a one-stop-shop for all our clients’ needs, answering their questions from the moment they reach out to us until they leave their holiday spot.”
With the Maldives being open to travellers since July 2020, travellers may let some details slip away as they plan for their vacation, what was deemed as a simple travel plan might present an issue once they get there. About some of the new regulations, Shafraz Fazley explains: “Apart from the mandatory PCR test, Traveller Health Declaration (THD) must be completed and submitted by all travellers travelling to and from Maldives, within 24 hours prior to their travel which can be submitted electronically via the immigration website of the Government of the Republic of Maldives. If the travellers are planning on staying at multiple resorts during their holiday are required to get an approval from the Ministry of Tourism. Social distancing rules are to be followed as well on the destination island. All these requirement and rules might seem daunting to travellers, which is why at OV Holidays, the personal assigned travel consultant is available throughout their stay to answer their questions and solve any potential request they might have, ensuring a smooth process.”
Acquiring the assistance of a travel concierge helps travellers manage the unexpected circumstances that might occur as a result of the pandemic. Making the process of booking a vacation as safe as possible while facing the volatility of the travel landscape, OV Holidays has also introduced a list of benefits for its clients to answer the sudden unforeseen changes that remain currently out of their control, some of these benefits include:
Free cancellation with full-refunds 7 days prior to travel dates
An easy instalments payment plan to provide financial flexibility
Free amendments and changes of travel dates
OV Holidays’ mission is to change the way travellers visit The Maldives, unlocking a wide range of experiences catered to their individual needs, from destination weddings and honeymoons, to group and family getaways, providing the best value and immaculate consultancy to shape a perfect holiday.