Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has brought in a team of journalists from China and South Korea, as part of its series of familiarisation trips to promote the Maldives.
The South Korean media group that was in the Maldives from July 10-16 stayed at Kandima Maldives, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, and Summer Island Maldives. The team consisted of journalists from leading travel and lifestyle magazines in South Korea, including Style Magazine, Ab Road Magazine, The BC Magazine and Esquire Magazine.
Meanwhile, the Chinese media group arrived in the Maldives Wednesday evening via Singapore Airlines, as part of a collaborative promotional campaign launched by MMPRC and Singapore Airlines in May.
From July 16-21, the group will stay at Grand Park Koddhipparu Maldives, Shangri-La’s Villingilli Resort & Spa, and Velassaru Maldives. The group comprises of representatives from leading travel and lifestyle magazines in China, including Travel+Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Marie Claire, Shanghai Quanzi and Zaker.
Both teams are being given the chance to see the underwater beauty of Maldives, experience the local way of life through sightseeing, taste local cuisine, and take on locally popular adventures and activities such as sailing a traditional Maldivian dhoni as well as pole and line fishing.
“MMPRC believes our marketing efforts through this series of FAM Trips will help further promote Maldives to a wider audience from these markets,” a statement issued by MMPRC read.
China, the single biggest source market, accounts for 15.5 per cent of total tourist arrivals to the Maldives in the first five months of the year. Tourist arrivals from China is on a steady increase, with figures recorded at 116,282 in the January-May period — an increase of 11.2 per cent compared to the same period last year.
South Korea, ranked as the 12th highest performing market, accounts for 1.9 per cent of total arrivals in the January-May period.
MMPRC kicked off the series of familiarisation trips in April, starting with a team of Indian journalists and bloggers. The official tourism promotion entity has so far brought in teams from the UK as well as countries from Eastern Europe.