Veligandu Maldives Resort Island has conducted five educational and exposure trips for students under its “Discover Tourism” programme this year, part of the resort’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
The programme aims to inspire young Maldivians to explore opportunities in tourism and the hospitality industry. In 2025, Veligandu Maldives welcomed students from Alifu Alifu Atoll Education Centre (Rasdhoo) and Thoddoo School to experience firsthand the operations of a luxury resort.
According to the resort, each session of “Discover Tourism” was designed to bridge classroom learning with real-world hospitality experience. Students attended motivational talks and interactive demonstrations, engaging directly with the resort’s management team and departmental heads.
Participants were introduced to key operational areas, including Front Office, Food & Beverage, and Housekeeping, while learning about teamwork, service excellence, and guest experience. The Chief Engineer presented an overview of the resort’s sustainability initiatives, including its solar panel project. Marine Biologist Sara Sibile conducted sessions on marine conservation under the theme “The Ocean: Depths of Wonder.”
The programme also offered hands-on experiences, such as pastry-making workshops with the resort’s Pastry Chef and role-play activities simulating real-life hospitality scenarios. Each visit concluded with an island tour and refreshments, giving students a full immersion into resort life.
Throughout the year, the initiative has welcomed dozens of students, teachers, and parents. The next session is scheduled later this year, targeting students from Ukulhas School and expanding the resort’s outreach within the atoll.
“At its heart, hospitality is not just about resorts, hotels, or restaurants. It is about people, about meaningful moments and creating experiences that guests will remember for a lifetime. They may forget what they ate or how their room looked, but they will never forget how you made them feel. A happy team creates happy guests, and this philosophy inspires everything we do,” Fathuhulla Ibrahim, General Manager of Veligandu Maldives, said regarding the program.
