A 100-strong delegation from Maldives is making final preparations for a comprehensive display of the country’s world-renowned tourism products at the upcoming Arabian Travel Market (ATM).
In a statement, state tourism promotion company Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) said an information session was held on Tuesday for industry partners participating in the fair. It was to share important information about the fair and how the partners can make the most from the event, it added.
More than 100 participants from 57 companies from the Maldives will be travelling to Dubai to attend Middle East’s largest travel and trade event. MMPRC has set up a modern stand at the fair, which is to be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre 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 the four-day annual business-to- business (B2B) exhibition, which showcases over 2,800 products and destinations from around the world to over 26,000 buyers and travel trade visitors.
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.
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.