Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) on Thursday met with industry representatives as part of the state tourism promotion agency’s preparations for the 2018 World Travel Market (WTM) London.
Representatives from 13 companies attended the pre-meeting, which was held at Champa Central Hotel in capital Male Thursday morning. Information pertaining to WTM London, the delegation from Maldives and other relevant details were highlighted during the briefing by MMPRC.
A total of 165 representatives from 64 companies involved in the Maldives tourism industry is set to attend the leading travel trade fair to be held at ExCeL London from November 5-7.
Tourism minister Moosa Zameer together the Maldives ambassador to UK Ahmed Shiaan and MMPRC’s Acting Managing Director Haris Mohamed will lead the delegation from Maldives.
This year, the size of the Maldives stand has been increased by 69sqm, with additional eight counters. During the fair, visitors can experience Maldivian delights passed on from generation to generation, while traditional attire will also be showcased to visitors.
WTM London is one of the leading global events for the travel industry, generating more than USD 3.7 billion of business contracts amongst attendees. Now in its 38th year, this show attracts a global audience that shapes the travel industry.
Over three days, the travel industry comes together in London, as almost 5,000 exhibiting destinations, technology and private sector companies identify and network with 51,000 travel professionals, key industry buyers, journalists, digital influencers, students and tourism ministers.
This vibrant event offers the opportunity to discover the world under one roof, and be inspired by industry leaders discussing trends, issues and innovations in the travel industry.
The Maldives is a regular exhibitor at WTM London.
Europe is the biggest regional source market for the Maldives tourism industry with a share of over 50 percent of total arrivals. According to official figures, the European marked observed an year on year increase of 12.4 percent last year, with arrivals increasing to 646,343 from 575,176.
Britain is a major European source market, as 103,977 British travellers visited the Maldives last year — a 2.1 percent increase from the year before. That growth has continued this year, as 83,311 Brits visited the Maldives in the past nine months of the year — a 10.3 percent increase from the 75,506 in the same period of last year.