AGP Executive Report

Plastic Free July & reef action: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru are running Plastic Free July with weekly beach cleans and reef cleans, plus a shark-awareness push with Miyaru on 14 July, as the resorts tackle Maldives plastic pollution and protect marine biodiversity. Coral regeneration via art: Fari Islands Festival (13–15 Aug 2026) is expanding its line-up and will build a reef-inspired sculpture with guests, then place it in the lagoon as part of ongoing coral regeneration efforts. House reefs in the spotlight: LUX* South Ari Atoll won Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2026 for families, pools and house reefs, highlighting its location in a marine protected area and direct access to marine life. Wellness tourism shift: A new wave of Maldives-focused luxury wellness is leaning into longevity and science-led wellbeing, reflecting how travellers increasingly want measurable health outcomes, not just relaxation. Heat & ocean signals: A report warns a record-hot ocean is supercharging El Niño effects, with knock-on impacts for weather across the world. Dengue reminder for travellers: Hawai‘i health officials reported a travel-related dengue case on Oʻahu and urged residents to remove standing water to reduce mosquito breeding. Education for hospitality: Atmosphere Foundation handed industrial kitchen equipment to Maldives National University to boost hands-on culinary training. Women divers + conservation: Coco Bodu Hithi marks PADI Women’s Dive Day (18 July) with a Women of the Ocean reef clean-up dive for certified divers.

Plastic Free July & ocean action: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru are running beach cleans and reef cleans with their Marine Lab, plus a shark awareness push with Miyaru—aimed at cutting plastic pollution and protecting fragile reef life. Conservation through community: Coco Bodu Hithi marks PADI Women’s Dive Day (18 July) with a Women of the Ocean Reef Clean-Up Dive for certified women divers, pairing reef debris removal with a biodiverse house-reef experience. Marine-focused hospitality wins: LUX* South Ari Atoll picked up triple Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2026 recognition, highlighting family stays and direct access to a vibrant house reef inside a marine protected area. Maldives tourism, family-first: JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa also earned multiple Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2026 honours, while Four Seasons Resorts Maldives launches “Learn with Legends” summer camp across Landaa Giraavaru and Kuda Huraa. Climate pressure signals: A new report says none of the UN SDGs are on track for 2030, with major gaps in ocean and land protection—an urgent backdrop for Maldives conservation priorities. Health watch for travellers: Hawai‘i DOH reported a travel-related dengue case on Oʻahu; officials stress reducing standing water to limit mosquito breeding.

Public Health Alert (Travel-linked dengue): Hawai‘i’s Department of Health confirmed a new travel-related dengue virus case on Oʻahu, bringing 2026 totals to six. Officials say the chance of local spread is low, but they’re urging residents to cut mosquito breeding by removing standing water from buckets, containers, planters, rain barrels and even cups. Climate & Oceans: A new report warns Antarctica’s west coast sea ice is unusually missing in midwinter, linked to wind-driven warm air pushing into the region. Separately, coverage highlights a strengthening El Niño forming over the hottest ocean ever recorded, with knock-on effects for global weather. Maldives Hospitality & Wellness: Luxury and wellness trends keep rolling in—Four Seasons Maldives launches “Learn with Legends” family summer camp, Kandima’s “Summer Kamp 2026” blends sports with an Art for Biodiversity exhibition, and JOALI Maldives touts major Travel + Leisure rankings. Education for Skills (Hospitality training): Atmosphere Foundation donated industrial kitchen equipment to The Maldives National University to boost hands-on culinary and hospitality training. Conservation Dive Event: Coco Bodu Hithi marks PADI Women’s Dive Day with a reef clean-up dive for certified women divers, pairing marine protection with underwater exploration.

Climate & Oceans: Scientists say Antarctica’s west coast is missing sea ice in midwinter, linked to unusual wind patterns pushing warm air and stopping ice from forming—another stark reminder of how fast the planet’s systems are shifting. El Niño Watch: A strengthening El Niño is forming over the hottest ocean ever recorded, with the ocean releasing heat back to the atmosphere and raising the odds of major weather swings worldwide. Health & Travel: Hawai‘i’s Department of Health reported a new travel-related dengue case on Oʻahu; officials stress reducing standing water to limit mosquito breeding and prevent local spread. Maldives Hospitality & Conservation: Coco Bodu Hithi marks PADI Women’s Dive Day (18 July) with a women-only reef clean-up dive, pairing underwater exploration with debris removal to protect the house reef. Local Education for Tourism: Atmosphere Foundation handed over industrial kitchen equipment to The Maldives National University to boost hands-on training for culinary and hospitality students. Tourism Trends: Luxury and wellness travel keeps evolving toward longevity-led, personalized experiences—while “coolcations” rise as extreme heat reshapes where people can comfortably vacation. Environment Goals: A new UN SDG review finds none of the 17 goals are on track to be achieved by 2030, with major gaps in water, biodiversity, and pollution.

Public Health: Hawai‘i DOH confirmed a new travel-related dengue case on Oʻahu, bringing 2026 totals to six, and urged residents to cut mosquito breeding by removing standing water around homes and workplaces. Climate & Oceans: A record-hot ocean is strengthening El Niño, with potential knock-on effects for global weather patterns, drought, heavy rain, heatwaves and storms. Food Security & Environment: WTO data says Persian Gulf conflict has disrupted fertilizer trade, raising risks of fertilizer shortages and price hikes that could hit farm yields and food prices. Biodiversity & Conservation: Coco Bodu Hithi marks PADI Women’s Dive Day (18 July) with a reef clean-up dive for certified women divers, linking community action with protection of the house reef. Maldives Hospitality & Sustainability: Mandara Spa at Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa was named a finalist for Eco-Spa of the Year at the Destination Deluxe Awards 2026, highlighting sustainability in wellness. Education & Skills: Atmosphere Foundation donated industrial kitchen equipment to Maldives National University to boost hands-on culinary and hospitality training.

Wellness Tourism: The global wellness tourism market is projected to surge from about $990bn (2025) to $2.4tn by 2035, with travellers increasingly chasing sleep, nutrition, fitness and longevity—not just spa time. El Niño & Reefs: A strengthening El Niño is forming over the hottest ocean ever recorded, and extra heat can intensify coral bleaching risk—bad news for reefs already under pressure. Regional Climate Push: Asia-Pacific ministers adopted a new roadmap to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution together, warning most environment-related SDG targets are off track. Maldives Dive Conservation: Coco Bodu Hithi marks PADI Women’s Dive Day (18 July) with a women-only reef clean-up dive to protect its biodiverse house reef. Hospitality & Sustainability: Mandara Spa at Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa is a finalist for Eco-Spa of the Year, while JOALI Maldives touts major Travel + Leisure rankings for art-and-nature luxury. Education for Skills: Atmosphere Foundation donated industrial kitchen equipment to Maldives National University to boost hands-on culinary training. Tourism Growth in the Maldives: Four Seasons Maldives launches “Learn with Legends” summer camp (20 July–31 Aug) blending sport and conservation, and Kandima’s Summer Kamp 2026 mixes art, football fever and biodiversity programming. Food & Supply: Starkiss Food says it supplies fresh produce to Maldives resorts, focusing on quality, consistency and on-time delivery.

Climate Watch: A strengthening El Niño is forming over the hottest ocean ever recorded, with the sea now starting to release stored heat back into the atmosphere—raising the odds of drought, heavy rain, heatwaves and storms far beyond the Pacific. Regional Environment Policy: Asia-Pacific ministers adopted a new roadmap to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution together, warning that most environment-related SDG targets are on track to be missed and air pollution exposure remains widespread. Reef Stress in Focus: With El Niño shifting warm waters, coral reefs face higher bleaching risk; the coverage points to how accumulated heat stress can push reefs toward severe bleaching conditions. Maldives Agriculture & Food Security: The Maldives is working with Chinese scientific expertise to diagnose and treat tree diseases and invasive pests, including efforts to tackle the “Ruku Madi” coconut palm infestation. Ocean Cleanup & Sharks: Maldives resorts mark Plastic Free July with beach and reef clean-ups, and plan Shark Awareness Day to highlight sharks’ role in keeping reef ecosystems healthy. Education for Hospitality: Atmosphere Foundation donated industrial kitchen equipment to Maldives National University to boost hands-on training for culinary and hospitality students.

Climate & Biodiversity: Asia-Pacific ministers adopted a new roadmap to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution together, as 88% of environment-related SDG targets are projected to be missed by 2030 and air pollution exposure remains widespread. Coral Reefs & Heat: A reef-focused briefing warns that warming oceans and El Niño can push coral systems toward severe bleaching, with monitoring tied to heat-stress levels. Food Security & Agriculture: Maldives is using Chinese-backed scientific expertise to diagnose and treat tree diseases and invasive pests, including work to tackle the coconut palm infestation known as “Ruku Madi.” Plastic Pollution & Sharks: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru kick off Plastic Free July with beach and reef clean-ups, plus a Shark Awareness Day in partnership with Miyaru. Tourism & Conservation (Maldives): Coco Bodu Hithi marks PADI Women’s Dive Day with a reef clean-up dive for certified women divers, blending community and marine protection. Maldives Travel Connectivity: S7 Airlines opened tickets for a new Novosibirsk–Malé route starting Oct 30, 2026, with twice-weekly flights. Hospitality Leadership (Maldives): The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort appointed Harish Gopalakrishnan as General Manager, reinforcing its wellness-led positioning.

Climate & Nature Watch: A new UN SDG review says none of the 17 goals are on track for 2030, with only 16% of targets progressing and 16% worsening—highlighting stalled action on Life Below Water and other environment-linked goals. Coral Reef Stress: Asia-Pacific ministers adopted a regional roadmap to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution together, as the region faces unsafe air pollution and missed environment targets. Reef Reality Check: A separate look at El Niño and reef health warns that warming seas can push corals toward bleaching, with Asia-Pacific reefs already under pressure. Maldives Agriculture & Food Security: Maldives is partnering with Chinese scientific experts to tackle tree diseases and invasive pests, including coconut palm “Ruku Madi,” aiming to diagnose outbreaks and expand treatments. Plastic Free July: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru kick off Plastic Free July with beach and reef clean-ups and a Shark Awareness Day in partnership with a local shark research NGO. Ocean Community: Coco Bodu Hithi marks PADI Women’s Dive Day with a reef clean-up dive for certified women divers, pairing marine conservation with underwater exploration. Tourism Updates: S7 Airlines opens tickets for a new Novosibirsk–Malé route starting 30 Oct 2026, and Kandooma Maldives begins a new management chapter from 1 Oct 2026 under HPL Hotels & Resorts.

Coral & Climate Policy: Asia-Pacific ministers adopted a new roadmap to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution together, warning that most environment-related SDG targets are on track to be missed and air pollution exposure remains widespread. Reef Stress Watch: A new look at El Niño and World Reef Awareness Day highlights how warming seas drive coral bleaching, with Asia-Pacific reefs already under pressure and monitoring urged as heat stress risks rise. Maldives Agriculture & Food Security: Maldives is partnering with Chinese scientific expertise to diagnose and treat tree diseases and invasive pests threatening crops and coconut palms, including work to tackle the “Ruku Madi” coconut palm infestation. Plastic Free July: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru kick off Plastic Free July with beach and reef cleans, plus shark awareness activities with a local conservation NGO. Tourism Sustainability Recognition: Milaidhoo Maldives earns a Forbes Travel Guide VERIFIED Responsible Hospitality badge, citing reef protection and community-focused responsible tourism. Conservation-Linked Wellness: Mandara Spa at Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa is shortlisted for Eco-Spa of the Year, tying wellness to environmental responsibility. Travel Access & Routes: S7 Airlines opens ticket sales for a new Novosibirsk–Malé route starting Oct 30, 2026, boosting direct travel options to the Maldives.

Climate & Oceans: Asia-Pacific ministers adopted a new regional roadmap to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution together, as the region faces missed SDG targets and unsafe air pollution levels. Coral Reef Stress: A reef-focused explainer warns that warming seas and El Niño can push coral bleaching risk higher, with monitoring tied to heat-stress measures. Maldives Agriculture: The Maldives is partnering with Chinese scientific experts to diagnose and treat tree diseases and invasive pests, including the coconut palm infestation known as “Ruku Madi.” Plastic Pollution Push: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru kick off Plastic Free July with beach and reef cleans and shark-awareness programming. Water & Health: Experts warn rising air pollution is damaging lung health, while a separate global look at water stress highlights how freshwater demand is outpacing supply in many countries. Tourism & Community: S7 Airlines opened ticket sales for flights from Novosibirsk to Male (from Oct 30, twice weekly), and Kandooma Maldives begins a new chapter under HPL Hotels & Resorts from Oct 1, 2026.

Asia-Pacific Climate Push: Asia-Pacific ministers backed a new ESCAP roadmap to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution together, warning most environment-related SDG targets are on track to be missed by 2030. Reef Stress Watch: A World Reef Awareness Day explainer links El Niño to higher coral bleaching risk, noting warming oceans can push reefs past severe heat-stress levels. Maldives Plastic Free July: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru kick off Plastic Free July with beach and reef cleans, plus shark awareness programming with a local research NGO. Food Security at Home: Maldives is using Chinese-backed plant science to diagnose and control tree diseases and invasive pests, including the coconut palm infestation known as “Ruku Madi.” New Route to Male: S7 Airlines opens tickets for Novosibirsk–Malé flights starting Oct 30, 2026, twice weekly, with a technical stop in Jaipur. Hotel Sustainability Badge: Milaidhoo Maldives earns Forbes Travel Guide’s VERIFIED™ Responsible Hospitality badge for measurable responsible tourism. Coral Restoration Idea: A Maldives-focused piece asks whether 3D-printed coral reefs could help reefs recover. Tourism & Management Moves: Kandooma Maldives begins a new chapter under HPL Hotels & Resorts from Oct 1, 2026.

Tree health & food security: Maldives is partnering with Chinese scientific experts to diagnose and treat tree diseases and invasive pests threatening crops and coconut palms, including the widespread “Ruku Madi” coconut infestation, with findings now being prepared for wider rollout. Climate & environment policy: Asia-Pacific governments adopted a new roadmap to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution together, warning that most environment-related SDG targets are on track to be missed and that unsafe air pollution exposure remains widespread. Antarctic sea-level science: A Nature study says near-term Antarctic ice loss is more predictable than feared for the next few decades, while also noting predictability weakens later in the century—relevant for long-range sea-level planning. Tourism & sustainability signals: Milaidhoo Maldives earned Forbes Travel Guide’s VERIFIED™ Responsible Hospitality badge, highlighting reef protection and local community support in Baa Atoll. Local resort developments: Kandooma Maldives is set to rebrand under HPL Hotels & Resorts from 1 October 2026, with a “Next Chapter” upgrade plan for refreshed villas and guest facilities. Travel disruption: Seaplane operations are being grounded by new regulations, affecting regional connectivity for visitors.

Climate & Pollution Push: Asia-Pacific ministers backed a new roadmap to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution together, warning that most environment-related SDG targets are on track to be missed and air pollution exposure remains widespread. Blue Carbon for Coasts: Bangladesh’s environment minister urged blue carbon finance to protect mangroves and coastal wetlands as “climate infrastructure,” linking healthy coasts to safer livelihoods and reduced cyclone losses. Coral & Reef Resilience: A Maldives-focused piece highlights how warming seas are driving severe coral bleaching—and notes resorts are responding with sustainability and reef-restoration efforts to protect tourism’s natural base. Maldives Tourism Moves: Kandooma Maldives is set to start a new chapter from 1 Oct 2026 under HPL Hotels & Resorts, with a “Next Chapter” upgrade plan for refreshed villas and guest experiences. Responsible Hospitality Badge: Milaidhoo Maldives received Forbes Travel Guide’s VERIFIED™ Responsible Hospitality badge, citing reef protection and community support in Baa Atoll. Local Emergency Readiness: Maldives plans a drone-first emergency response system to speed up help when disasters strike. Food Systems Action: SAPLING Dialogue 2026 in Gujarat called for concrete steps to strengthen South Asia’s food processing sector for nutrition and growth.

Climate & Biodiversity Coordination: Asia-Pacific ministers backed a new ESCAP roadmap to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution together, warning that most SDG environment targets are on track to be missed and that unsafe air pollution exposure is widespread. Air Pollution & Health: Experts at India’s bronchopulmonary congress flagged rising air pollution as a major lung-health threat, urging collective action to cut microscopic pollutants. Blue Carbon for Coasts: Bangladesh’s environment minister pushed blue carbon finance as “climate, community and development” support, pointing to mangroves and wetlands as key coastal protection. Maldives Climate Reality: A new explainer reiterates how sea-level rise could leave much of the Maldives underwater by 2100, while highlighting resort and local adaptation efforts. Coral Restoration Hope: A Maldives-focused piece asks whether 3D-printed coral reefs could help rebuild damaged ecosystems. Tourism Moves: Kandooma Maldives rebrands under HPL Hotels & Resorts with a “Next Chapter” upgrade plan; Milaidhoo Maldives earns Forbes Travel Guide’s VERIFIED Responsible Hospitality badge. Ocean & People: Nova Maldives launches Women’s Dive Day (17–19 July) to boost reef access and women’s participation in diving. Finance for Growth: Bank of Maldives rolls out faster merchant financing and a “digital payments” direction, while President Muizzu opened the Maldives Financial Expo 2026. Local Marine Economy: A study claims manta rays are worth US$8.6 billion to the Maldives economy.

Responsible Tourism Badge: Milaidhoo Maldives earned the 2026 Forbes VERIFIED™ Responsible Hospitality badge, highlighting reef protection, local community support, and authentic Maldivian culture as part of everyday operations. Climate Reality for Tourism: A new piece warns that without emissions cuts and stronger coastal protection, sea-level rise could leave much of the Maldives underwater by 2100—while noting resorts and locals are investing in adaptation and net-zero goals. Blue Carbon Finance: Bangladesh’s environment minister stressed that mangroves and coastal wetlands are “climate infrastructure,” pushing for blue carbon finance to protect coastal communities and economies. Coral Resilience Research: Scientists report climate-resistant coral reefs found worldwide, offering hope for reef survival as warming accelerates. Women’s Dive Day in the Maldives: Nova Maldives runs a 17–19 July programme led by Maldivian PADI Course Director Zoona Naseem and resident marine biologist Jenna Lehocki, aiming to boost women’s participation in diving. Digital Payments Push: Bank of Maldives says “invisible” payments and connected payment ecosystems are coming, with faster merchant financing and more seamless transactions.