Business
International Maldives Travel Market 2019 launched
International Maldives Travel Market (IMTM) 2019 has been launched.
As a B2B travel and trade fair, IMTM brings together leading tour operators, travel agencies, destination management companies and other businesses related to the tourism industry from different parts of the world to explore opportunities and liaise with a major representation of the Maldives tourism industry, including resorts, hotels, guesthouse, liveaboards, local travel agents and tour operators.
IMTM 2019 was officially launched Wednesday evening by the Deputy Minister of Tourism Dr Naushad Mohamed at a ceremony held at Maagiri Hotel in capital Male. The ceremony was attended by government officials, heads of corporations, industry representatives, partners of IMTM and media partners.
The second edition of IMTM is planned to be held from June 22-23, 2019 at Farukolhufushi, Hulhumale, Phase 2. The event aims to host 50 hosted buyers (an increase of 56 per cent) and representative of 25 countries (an increase of 32 per cent), whilst achieving a trade visitor participation target of 300 representatives (an increase of 100 per cent) compared to 2018.
“Unlike the traditional fairs, IMTM used a different approach where international buyers were stationed in meetings booths. The local participants visited them as trade visitors which made it possible for IMTM to make it cost effective for the local trade visitors. Meetings were prescheduled through the online meeting booking portal developed by IMTM in-house technical team,” Hawwa Shiuna Khalid, the Managing Director of IMTM, said.
The first edition of IMTM 2018 was held from June 23-24, 2018 at Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi resort. The inaugural event featured 32 hosted buyers representing 19 countries spread throughout five continents. The event also welcomed 127 trade visitors representing 44 resorts, 42 guesthouses, 21 liveaboards, three hotels, and 13 local travel agents and tour operators.
IMTM team has shared the feedback collected from the participants and hosted buyers after a post event survey conducted.
According to the findings, the main objective of participating in IMTM was to build new contacts, 80 per cent of the participants reported that business meetings conducted at IMTM was “valuable”. Forty per cent of the participants reported conducting 21-20 business meetings during the fair. A total of MVR 2.5 million worth of sales were generated at the two-day fair itself. Seventy-eight per cent of the participants said “yes” to participating in IMTM 2019.
Atlanta Tourism, a hosted buyer from Turkey, stated: For the first time it is a very successful organisation. Setups were traditional and well organised. We saw new properties and some alternatives for the traditional and local island tourism.”
Secret Paradise, a trade visitor, also commented: “I think you did an amazing job and you should be proud of what you achieved, even though there will be learning points and things you will want to do differently. I had more meetings with agents interested in the Maldives in the two days than would have done in two days at ITB/WTM at a very cost-effective rate, even with my overnight stays. I look forward to attending 2019.”
IMTM has also made a Request for Proposal (RFP) to accommodate the 50 hosted buyers that will visit IMTM 2019. The detail regarding the RPF is available from IMTM website and the deadline for RFP submission is January 20, 2019.
Registration for both hosted Buyers and local trade visitors are also open through IMTM website. The finalised list of hosted buyers will be published before May 16, 2019 and the deadline for trade visitor registration is May 23, 2019. Similar to last year, trade visitor fee is USD 250 per person per company.
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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