Travel Trade Maldives (TTM) 2018 celebrated its success with a colourful gala ceremony Wednesday evening, as the largest travel fair in the Maldives ended its second day of pre-scheduled meetings.
All participants of TTM 2018, including local and international exhibitors and visitors as well as partners attended the special dinner hosted by Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi resort.
After a hectic day of meetings, all participants of TTM 2018 were invited to the TTM gala dinner, which played a vital role in allowing the participants to network with each other in a more relaxed setting.
Featuring a multi-cuisine buffet, Adaaran Resorts Maldives showed off a glimpse of their latest property in the Maldives, Heritance Aarah. Equipped with 157 villas and suites separated by tropical vegetation for privacy, Heritance Aarah is set to open in winter of 2018.
During the gala dinner, TTM organiser Maldives Getaways presented all partners with a token of appreciation for their continuing support.
Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) CEO Ibrahim Ziyath accepted the award on behalf of the platinum partner, while the Managing Director of Yanmar Jackson Tan gave a speech on behalf of both MTCC and Yanmar Asia.
Officials of Maldives Getaways pose for a photo with partners at the gala night of TTM 2018. PHOTO/ MALDIVES GETAWAYS
A special recognition award was also given to Adaaran Resorts Maldives, in appreciation of not only their generous hospitality but also the for their generosity.
Speaking at the dinner, Assistant Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Adaaran Resorts Suresh Dissanayake congratulated and commended the efforts of the team at Maldives Getaways for pulling off a successful second year of TTM, and unveiled that the PR and marketing company was to hold a Travel Trade Sri Lanka (TTSL) event in neighbouring Sri Lanka in 2019.
TTM 2018 has been a tremendous success so far, with over 280 visitors during the first day. This number increased to over 350 visitors on the second day of TTM.
Exhibitors expressed their delight at the turnout on both days.
Ahmed Naufal, the Associate Director of Sales at Dhevanafushi Maldives Luxury Resort and Spa, said that their meetings have been very successful so far. TTM brought in a large Korean market, which the resort was targeting towards, he added.
Dhevanafushi Maldives is soon to be rebranded by AccorHotels under the name Raffles Maldives Meradhoo.
Pre-scheduled meetings take place during the second day of TTM 2018. PHOTO/ MALDIVES GETAWAYS
The last batch of pre-scheduled meetings of TTM began Thursday morning at the main convention centre of Dharubaaruge in Male.
TTM 2018 kicked off Monday with a summit dedicated to tackle the most pressing issues in the world-renowned holiday destination.
As part of TTM 2018, the first ever Maldives Supplier Expo will be held from Friday to Saturday. More than 50 suppliers will have one-on-one prescheduled meetings with officials from procurement, accounts, finance, and F&B departments of more than 100 resorts.
TTM, which was launched last year by local PR firm Maldives Getaways, aims to facilitate the tourism industry of Maldives to reach the ultimate target of two million tourists per year with over USD 3.5 billion in receipts by the end of 2020.
Maldives on Thursday welcomed the one millionth tourist to visit this year.
The one millionth tourist is a Thai named Sutapa Amonwivat, who arrived from Singapore with her husband and two children. This is her second visit to Maldives.
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) and the Ministry of Tourism gave a warm welcome to Sutapa at the Velana International Airport (VIA) Thursday afternoon. She was welcomed at the VIA by tourism minister Ibrahim Faisal, MMPRC Managing Director Ibrahim Shiury and senior officials of various relevant agencies.
After welcoming her with traditional offerings, she was presented with various gifts by the ministry, MMPRC, customs, immigration, Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) and Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA).
Maldives reached one million tourists in June, three weeks earlier than last year. The number of tourists reached one million on July 16, 2023.
Maldives expects to reach 2 million tourists this year.
Chongqing Airlines on Monday began its inaugural flights to Maldives.
The Chongqing-Male route, scheduled three times a week, is expected to strengthen the bonds between China and the Maldives, opening up exciting new opportunities for tourism and cultural exchange.
The inaugural flight was welcomed upon its arrival at Velana International Airport (VIA) in Maldives, where local officials and tourism representatives expressed their enthusiasm for this new development.
“We warmly welcome our friends from China to our beautiful islands. This new connection strengthens our bonds and opens up new opportunities for tourism,” the tourism ministry said on X.
Maldives currently welcomes four airlines from China, including China Eastern, Beijing Capital Airlines, Xiamen Airlines.
In January, Maldives government urged tourism stakeholders in both Maldives and China to ramp up efforts to restore China’s position as the primary source market for Maldives tourism, a status held before the onset of Covid-19.
China, being the largest source market for Maldives tourism before the pandemic, saw a resumption of tourist arrivals from January 2023 after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. In 2023, the Maldives welcomed 187,118 Chinese tourists, marking a significant recovery in numbers. This year, the Maldives has welcomed the most number of tourists from China, with over 107,940 or 11.5 percent of total arrivals by June 12.
CROSSROADS Maldives has introduced WeChat Pay, widely known as Weixin Pay in China, across its world-class resorts, SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, and Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. This payment option is made available to enhance the convenience and overall experience for guests from China, making their stay in the Maldives more enjoyable and hassle-free.
Understanding the needs of the diverse guests, CROSSROADS Maldives has integrated WeChat Pay into operations, allowing guests from China to easily and securely conduct transactions using a payment method familiar to them. The introduction of WeChat Pay is a testament to CROSSROADS Maldives’ dedication to enhancing guest satisfaction by offering exceptional experiences at every turn. What is also expected through this initiative is that the guests could benefit from better foreign exchange rates, translating to better savings on their expenditures during their stay.
The option is available for guests in-house conveniently at both resorts as well as across the Marina at CROSSROADS Maldives where a wider variety of unparalleled dining and retail experiences are available for all guests. The day visitors from China will also therefore equally benefit from this new introduction at the Maldives’ premier multi-island integrated leisure destination.
SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, is a vibrant tropical escape that offers unique and locally inspired experiences. The resort features spacious rooms and villas, a variety of dining options, and an array of recreational activities designed to cater to the desires of modern travellers. Guests can escape to the island’s SAiisational natural beauty, enjoy water sports, and indulge in spa treatments, all while relishing the personalised service that defines Hilton’s Curio Collection.
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives brings the iconic Hard Rock spirit to the tranquil shores of the Maldives. This family-friendly resort offers a perfect blend of relaxation and entertainment, featuring music-inspired experiences, live performances, and the brand’s signature amenities. With luxurious accommodations, diverse dining options, and a plethora of activities for all ages, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives ensures an unforgettable holiday experience for every guest.
