Business
MATATO, PATA reveal growth hacking techniques to industry professionals in Maldives
Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) together with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has organised the second PATA Human Capacity Building Programme in the Maldives, with the theme ‘Growth Hacking: How to Scale Your Business Exponentially’.
In response to the success of the first PATA Human Capacity Building Programme in the Maldives last year, the second event took place on November 22 at the Paradise Island Resort. The event, staged as part of the third edition of the Maldives Travel Conference, brought together 50 travel industry professionals in the Maldives.
Representing PATA were CEO Dr Mario Hardy and Director of Human Capital Development Parita Niemwongse.
The one-day intensive workshop provided participants with an interactive training programme that incorporated a series of classroom sessions conducted by leading travel industry experts coupled with practical activities, group assignments and networking opportunities. The programme content was based upon the successful PATAcademy-HCD at the association’s Engagement Hub in Bangkok.
PATA CEO Dr Mario Hardy said, |We are delighted to have the opportunity to once again partner with MATATO to stage the PATA Human Capacity Building Programme in the Maldives. The theme of this year’s programme, ‘Growth Hacking’, is the perfect extension of our first programme held last year on ‘Exploring the Art of Storytelling’ as it challenges organisations to experiment and re-work traditional marketing and sales strategies to focus upon growth.”
Abdulla Ghiyaz, President of MATATO, said, “MATATO is very proud to partner with PATA for the second time in bringing the PATA Human Capital Development programme in the Maldives. The success and feedback from the first one last year has led the way for hopefully an annual event in the Maldives. The participation this year has been better than last year, and I hope this gives us the opportunity for even more PATA events in the Maldives”
Speakers at the two-day programme included Stu Lloyd, Chief Hothead – Hotheads Innovation, Hong Kong SAR and Vi Oparad, Country Manager – StoreHub, Thailand.
Vi Oparad said, “For my session, I’m hoping for participants to: understand current situation of digital video space, pick the right framework to hack message crafting, and scale their branding through digital video channels. And by the end of the session, participants should have: online video prototypes that can be used as a starting point for future development.”
Stu Lloyd added, “Growth Hacking is a mindset of optimisation. Can we tweak our business and get more engagement or revenue out of what we’re doing? It starts with an experimental attitude and restless dissatisfaction with the status quo, and an attitude that all our products, services, and solutions can be improved. We just don’t know how – so we need to do a lot of testing to see what’s going to work better than we are currently doing. This can be anything from the revenue model to the colour of a hyperlink button.”
The PATA Human Capacity Building Programme is the association’s in-house/outreach initiative for Human Capital Development (HCD) across the broad spectrum of travel and tourism. Leveraging PATA’s network of talented industry leaders worldwide, the programme designs and implements customised training workshops for government agencies, non-governmental organisations, academic institutions and private sector businesses.
The training is delivered through innovative adult education learning techniques including case studies, group exercises, group discussions, instructor presentations and site visits.
The facilitators bring knowledge, experience and expertise from a wide range of business sectors and drawn from PATA’s extensive and established network in the tourism industry and beyond.
PATA designs and coordinates the workshop, providing experts who lead and moderate exchanges among participants and offer their own perspectives and experiences. The workshop content and agenda, including the ideal profile and the number of participants, are developed by PATA in close collaboration with the lead institution or organisation.
Launched in 2016 as part of the annual Maldives Travel Awards, the Maldives Travel Conference aims to create a platform in Maldives to lead international dialogue and debate on challenges and opportunities that the tourism industry unfolds.
In 2016, the conference focused on four main topics with the importance of promoting the Maldives overseas, changes to the nation’s luxury travel industry, the ongoing transformation of the archipelago’s tourism sector, and the opportunities and challenges faced by the industry.
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.
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