The first and second place winners of the 2025 Tourism Week Poster Making Competition enjoyed a special resort day trip arranged by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment as their competition prize. The students were hosted by Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort for the experience.

During the visit, the students received a warm welcome from the Anantara team and toured Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort, Anantara Veli Maldives Resort, and Naladhu Private Island Maldives. The tour gave students first-hand exposure to resort facilities, services, and the professional tourism environment.

The visit also provided valuable experiential learning outside the classroom. Through the property tours and interaction with industry professionals, students gained a better understanding of resort operations, service standards, and guest experiences. This helped connect their learning with the world of work and supported their skills development. The students also enjoyed lunch, spent time in a private villa, and visited Gulhifushi Picnic Island. Experiencing the resort from a guest’s perspective gave them another opportunity to understand the range of services and experiences offered within the Maldivian resort sector.

The experience also gave students greater awareness of career pathways and future employment opportunities within tourism and hospitality. Exposure to a professional resort environment can help students understand the expectations of the industry and the different areas in which they may build their future careers.

The prize was made possible through collaboration between education, government, and the tourism industry. The Ministry of Tourism and Environment arranged the opportunity, while the Anantara team hosted the students and supported knowledge sharing through their interaction with the winners. Such collaboration with companies/private sector creates valuable opportunities to connect student learning with industry practice.

FHTS extends its appreciation to the Ministry of Tourism and Environment for arranging the prize and to the Anantara team for their warm hospitality and for sharing valuable industry insights with the students.