Pravasi Bharatiya Samman conferred on top India-born hotelier in Maldives

New Delhi, Oct 7 (UNI) The prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman 2021 was conferred on Salil Panigrahi, Founder, Atmosphere Resorts, in acknowledgement of his pioneering work in the tourism industry in the Maldives.
This is the first time that an Indian from the Maldives is being given the coveted award.
The award was presented by Indian High Commission Charge’ d’ Affaires Rohit Rathish, on behalf of the President of India.
The event was graced by Abdulla Shahid, President United Nations General Assembly and Foreign Minister of the Maldives. Tourism Minister of Maldives, Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, was the Guest of Honour on the occasion.
It is a historic moment for the Indian community in the Maldives, as the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman recognizes, for the very first time, the contribution of the 28,000-plus strong Indian diaspora in the development of the close India-Maldives partnership, an official statement said.
Panigrahi has been an active player for over two decades in the Maldives tourism sector. As Founder, Director and the Chief Operating Officer of the EoN Resorts Group since 2003, he has been closely involved in the development, operations and transactions of over a dozen internationally acclaimed resorts in the Maldives.
In 2013, Panigrahi conceptualized Atmosphere as a resort management brand with a unique philosophy. Within the span of a decade, the group has developed 6 luxury resorts under its banner.
Panigrahi has played an integral role in showcasing brand Maldives at a global level and has also carried out several CSR activities through his organization. His continued contribution has opened employment avenues for Maldivian nationals, training many individuals in the field of hospitality, while making a notable contribution to the overall economy of Maldives.
Tourism industry is the mainstay of the Maldivian economy. The recognition of Panigrahi’s work in Maldives’ tourism sector is a testament to the strong tourism linkages between India and Maldives.
Air connectivity has improved vastly over the last few months, driven by the rising demand from Indian tourists. As a result, India has emerged as the top market for Maldives tourism with a 23% market share and over 2 lakh Indian tourists having visited Maldives since the beginning of 2021!, the statement said.