Vacations Expo 2018 kicked off Thursday with 24 exhibitors.
The annual expo, organised by leading local event management company Highrise, was inaugurated by UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Maldives Shoko Noda. Top officials from Highrise and the travel industry attended the ceremony held Thursday afternoon.
The entrance free expo is being be held till the end of Saturday at the National Art Gallery in capital Male. It is open for public from 2-6pm and from 8-11pm on Thursday and Saturday, and from 4-6pm and from 8-11pm on Friday.
Twenty-four exhibitors have participated at the expo, including Thailand Tourism, Malaysia Tourism, Singapore Tourism, and Hotels and Restaurants Association Bhutan. Local and regional travel agencies and tour operators such as Inner Maldives Holidays, Ace Aviation Services, Travel Connections Maldives, Tripverin, Maldives Hajj Corporation, Al Manasik Maldives, Moodhu Holidays, Tropical Discoveries Sri Lanka as well as local guesthouses, including Airport Beach Hotel, Divers Lodge, Koka Villa, Araamu Holidays and Spa, Velana Hotels, Dhigurah Retreat Beach, and Kaani Hotels have also exhibited at the expo.
Bangkok Hospital, Allied Insurance Company of the Maldives, local telecom giant Dhiraagu, Atoll Scuba dive centre, TheKitchen restaurant, and Women Entrepreneurs Association of Maldives are also exhibitors.
Visitors have the chance to win lucky draw prizes, including umrah pilgrimage trips from Maldives Hajj Corporation and Al Manasik Maldives, complimentary stays from exhibiting guesthouses, PADI open water dive courses, and attractive insurance packages from Allied Insurance. Air tickets from Bangkok Airways, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, AirAsia, Qatar Airways and Scoot as well as special holiday packages to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Bhutan are also on offer.
For the third year running, the expo is sponsored by Inner Maldives Holidays, with Thailand Tourism and Allied Insurance as co-sponsors. Absolute Security and Advance Protection Private Limited has signed up as the security partner, while Asaree Services serves as setup partner, Monarc as printing partner, UNICA as sounds and lights partner, Dhiraagu as digital communications partner, and TheKitchen as catering partner.
Maldives Insider and The Island Chief have been assigned travel media partners, while local daily Sun Online has signed up as the online media partner and Raajje TV as the official broadcaster.
The annual travel trade show brings together leading travel companies, hoteliers, airlines, tour operators, travel agents, online travel companies, liveaboards, cruises, dive operators and other travel marketers under one roof. Exhibitors can display various attractive travel packages and services.
The expo’s organiser Highrise has successfully delivered several local and international events, including Maldives Travel Awards, Maldives Film Awards, Maldives Living Expo and Sounds of Maldives.