Maldives is gearing up for a comprehensive display of its world-renowned tourism products at the upcoming Arabian Travel Market (ATM).
State tourism promotion company Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has set up a modern stand at the fair, which is to be held in Dubai from April 24-27.
The stand is almost fully booked by premier hotel and resort operators such as AAA Hotels and Resorts, Kandima Maldives, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Hulhule Island Hotel, Villa Hotels, Maalifushi by COMO, Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives, Amilla Fushi, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Bandos Maldives, Anantara Maldives Resorts and Naladhu Maldives, Kanuhura Maldives, Furaveri Island Resort, Adaaran resorts, Crown and Champa Resorts, Coco Bodu Hithi, JA Manafaru, Cheval Blanc Randheli, Summer Island Maldives, Ayada Maldives and Sun Siyam Resorts. Travel agents and tour operators representing the Maldives include Crown Tours, Pearl Travel Service, Lets Go Maldives, Inner Maldives Holidays, Moodhu Holidays, Travel Connection Maldives and Capital Travel & Tours.
Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) will also have a representation at the fair.
This Maldives’ 18th year of participation at the ATM.
ATM is the travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. Tourist destinations from the Middle East and around the world showcase a diverse range of accommodation options, breathtaking tourist attractions and new airline routes.
ATM, the largest trade and consumer travel show in the Gulf region, serves as an ideal platform for Maldivian suppliers and relevant agencies to establish marketing networks with their United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Middle East counterparts. Every year, the Maldivian delegation updates travel trade representatives and members of the media in the UAE and Middle East on new developments and products in the Maldives. Participation in this annual travel market helps to strengthen the presence of Maldives in the Middle East market as ATM brings together the region’s buyers and sellers from every sector of the industry.
Middle East is also the hub from which major airlines such as Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Fly Dubai have scheduled direct flights to the Maldives’ main Velana International Airport. Recent addition to flights from the Middle East is Saudi Arabia’s flagship carrier Saudi Airlines.
Middle East is one of the major emerging source markets for the Maldives tourism industry. Official figures show that 51,330 tourists visited the Maldives from Middle Eastern countries last year, a 22.3 percent increase over the 41,976 the year before.
That growth is set to continue this year as well, as Middle Eastern travellers that chose to travel to the Maldives for their holidays increased by 3.9 percent in the first two months of the year.