World’s premier budget airline AirAsia has signed as an Airline Partner for Travel Trade Maldives (TTM), the first ever international travel trade show of Maldives.

Malaysia-based AirAsia began flight operations to the Maldives in October 2015 with thrice a week service. The airline has now expanded its operations to the Maldives, increasing its frequency on the Kuala Lumpur-Male route to daily flights.

AirAsia, the largest airline in Malaysia by fleet size and destinations, offers a low-cost option for travellers coming to the Maldives especially from South East Asia and for locals who often visit Malaysia for higher eduction and during holiday. The airline’s recent capacity and frequency bump has boosted arrivals from the region, and benefited tourists from other parts of the world who arrive in the Maldives via Kuala Lumpur.

Organised by local PR firm Maldives Getaways, TTM is scheduled to be held at the main convention centre in capital Male Dharubaaruge from July 12-13.

TTM is expected to attract over 100 resorts and hotels along with 150 international buyers and media. Premium exhibitors include Adaaran Resorts, Universal Resorts, Crown & Champa Resorts, Bandos Maldives, and Villa Hotels & Resorts Maldives. Airline partners include Maldives’ flagship carrier Maldivian and Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) which will be joined by three international airlines.

The travel trade show will host Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Academy for the first time in Maldives. The first ever Hotelier Summit of Maldives that targets hotel investors, leading hotel owners, operators, developers, architects, interior designers and consultants will also be held as part of TTM.

TTM gala night, to be held at Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi, will host Maldives Travel Awards: People’s Edition which will recognise 10 outstanding individuals from the hospitality industry.

Maldives recorded 1.2 million tourist arrivals in 2015 with a total of receipts around USD 2.5 billion. With the rapid changes in global travel markets, Maldives continues to strengthen its foothold as one of the leading tourist destinations in the world. While tourism still remains the leading economic industry in the country by far, innovative new approaches in marketing are required to ensure the sector remains at the top.

TTM aims to facilitate the tourism industry of Maldives to reach the ultimate target of two million tourists with over USD 3.5 billion in receipts by the end of 2020. More than 300 hoteliers, suppliers, related industries and travel industry professionals from the Maldives and abroad are expected to visit TTM to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry opinion and trends.