Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) on Thursday signed an agreement with Maldives Getaways to conduct marketing seminars for guesthouses in Maldives.
Top officials from MMPRC, Maldives Getaways and Guesthouse Association of Maldives (GAM) attended the signing ceremony held at MMPRC office in capital Male Thursday afternoon.
Maldives Gateways won an open bid to conduct these seminars, which are part of the new government’s 100-day pledge to to develop and further strengthen local tourism in the Maldives.
Founded in 2010, Maldives Getaways has positioned itself as a leading PR and marketing agency in the Maldives. Amongst the services provided by Maldives Getaways include e-marketing, advertising, branding, media broadcasting and other similar services.
According to MMPRC, seminars will be conducted from March 19 to May 20. The seminars will be held in Aa. Thoddo, Aa. Ukulhas, K. Maafushi, V. Thinadhoo, B. Dharavandhoo, Adh. Dhigurah, Hdh. Hanimaadhoo, Addu City, Laamu Atoll, Gdh. Thinadhoo, and Hulhumale.
“The objectives of conducting these seminars is to assist the guesthouses in Maldives to find potential target markets and familiarising them with different marketing strategies that they can use to promote their products,” a statement issued by MMPRC read.
Maldives, known world over for its upmarket tourism industry, has resorts in the hundreds spread across the archipelago. The industry has in recent years expanded to introduce more affordable segments, including guesthouses and liveaboards. Some 500 guesthouses have started operations over the past five years as the number of travellers that choose to stay in guesthouses rise.
The new government has held a guesthouse symposium to identify and resolve challenges faced by the guesthouse industry.
Meanwhile, the government has announced plans to establish a financing company in order to provide financial and professional assistance to guesthouse businesses.