Maldives has participated in World Travel Market (WTM) London with a 195-strong contingent.

State tourism promotion company Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) said 195 representatives from 70 companies, including resorts, hotels, guesthouse, travel agencies, associations, airline operators are representing the Maldives at the fair, which is being held from Monday to Wednesday.

The Maldives contingent is led by Attorney General Mohamed Anil. Other top officials, including Maldives ambassador in the UK Ahmed Shiaan as well as MMPRC chairman Mohamed Khaleel and Acting Managing Director Haris Mohamed are also part of the official delegation.

According to MMPRC, the Maldives is being represented at a 276 square metre double storey stand designed in an attractive contemporary style showcasing the beauty of the country.  This year’s stand has been enhanced to accommodate the increasing number of industry partners participating at the fair year on year implying the significance of the fair to the partners which is a positive indication, it added.

WTM London is a leading global event for the travel industry, generating more than USD 3.7 billion of business contracts amongst attendees. Now in its 37th year, this show attracts a global audience that shape the travel industry.

Over three days, the travel industry comes together as almost 5,000 exhibiting destinations, technology and private sector companies to find 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 single biggest 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 10.7 percent in the first half of this year, with arrivals increasing to 320,162 from 289,234.

Britain is a major European source market, as more than 100,000 British travellers visited the Maldives last year — a 9.8 percent increase from the year before. That growth has continued this year, as 51,737 Brits visited the Maldives in the first six months of the year — a 0.4 percent increase from the 51,536 in the same period of last year.