The delegation from Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are in the Maldives for a short two-day visit to sample some of the activities on offer to visitors from the Arab countries. The Maldives can be reached by a four to five hour flight from the Gulf and it is the ultimate getaway for those who are attracted by private islands, stunning beaches and crystal clear waters. The Maldives provides the perfect backdrop for a relaxing, rejuvenating holiday, which is a welcome contrast to the frantic pace of life in the Arabian Gulf.

At a press conference at the Kurumba Resort, Mr Abdul Hammed Zakariyya, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation said ‘We are very excited to be able to welcome so many journalists, travel agents and tour operators from the Gulf region. This is one of the largest familiarisation tours we have ever had and we would like to thank Jazeera Airways for flying everyone here. It very encouraging that there has been such a positive interest in our beautiful destination/