Business
Maldives launches marketing campaign with Skyscanner to attract tourists
Visit Maldives has begun a campaign with leading global travel marketplace Skyscanner, to promote Maldives as one of the most preferred and safest destinations in the world for tourists.
This three-month campaign targets Italy, UK and Russia, three key source markets prior to the closing and reopening of Maldives’ borders.
The purpose of this campaign is to assure potential travellers that the Maldives remains one of the safest destinations during this unprecedented situation.
Messaging of the campaign will highlight the unique geographical formation of the island nation and how that leads to physical distancing and seclusion. Owing to the natural dispersion of islands, social distancing is ensured and islands are less crowded, making it safe and peaceful for travellers to enjoy their holiday.
The campaign will reach an estimated amount of 50 million people in Italy, UK and Russia which will in turn increase brand awareness and visibility, enticing more tourists from all three countries to visit the Maldives.
Following the UK government’s recent decision to add the Maldives to its safe travel list last week, Skyscanner observed a 282 per cent increase in searches for flights to the Maldives, highlighting underlying demand to travel.
Under the campaign, a page will be dedicated to Visit Maldives on Skyscanner platforms, targeting the three markets in their own languages. Through this page, content will be created to showcase different experiences for tourists and show them that the Maldives is unique in its own ways.
Destination promotion ads in native languages of the three target markets will be placed throughout Skyscanner’s platforms to capitalise on travel intent to the Maldives and maximise the reach of content. This will include Skyscanner’s homepage and the most prominent positions on flight search results views.
After almost four months of border closure due to Covid-19, Maldives reopened its borders in July, fully prepared with strict safety measures in place.
A global campaign called “Rediscover Maldives… The Sunny Side of Life” was launched, aiming to make tourists more aware of the travel situation and the measures taken under the “new normal” guidelines, to ensure the safety of both tourists and staff.
Along with the geographically distant islands which provide for the natural isolation tourists prefer, the new measures make Maldives a safe haven for tourists.
Visit Maldives has been carrying out several activities worldwide to ensure that the Maldives remains one of the most preferred and safest tourist destinations.
Some of the other noteworthy campaigns include a global media campaign with CNN, a campaign with DNATA in the Middle East, outdoor campaigns in UK and South Korea, a campaign with German Bridal Magazine, and a social media campaign with Marco Polo in Germany.
Campaigns with Travel Weekly in UK, WeddingSutra in India, OTA in France, and with Travelata, Sletat and Squizz in Russia are also underway.
Due to the challenges brought on by the global pandemic, Visit Maldives had to re-strategise destination promotion campaigns accordingly. The marketing activities shifted to digital platforms.
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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