Business
Visit Maldives hosts joint webinar with Emirates
Visit Maldives has conducted a joint webinar with Emirates airline for the Norwegian market.
Held on Thursday, it was the first activity carried out this year for the Nordic region in line with the strategy for ambient brand advertising to boost the destination presence in this market.
A total of 30 participants joined the webinar including travel agents, tour operators and other industry professionals from Norway.
Representatives from Emirates shared details of flight schedules to the Maldives highlighting that there were three weekly flights from Oslo to Male with a stopover in Dubai along with four daily flights between Dubai and Male through other routes.
Thoyyib Mohamed, Managing Director of Visit Maldives, addressed participants of the webinar. He highlighted plans to carry out offline and online activities in the Nordic market to promote destination visibility and detailed vaccination efforts in the country.
“We aim to become one of the first countries with a 100 per cent vaccinated tourism sector and population. The staff from the tourism industry are especially given priority to ensure their safety as well as those visiting the Maldives,” he said.
Visit Maldives also provided the latest updates of the country, including the Covid-19 situation, entry requirements and departure and arrival procedures. It was highlighted that the safety measures in place granted the country ‘Safe Travels Stamp’ in 2020 from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
The presentation also focused on the unique geography of the country that has enabled natural social distancing and the one-island-one-resort concept that provides visitors plenty of isolation and privacy, and showcased experiences unique to the destination, such as underwater spas and restaurants.
Details on local initiatives were also shared at the webinar. These include the Maldives Border Miles programme by Maldives Immigration which is the world’s first tier-based travel loyalty programme, and Allied Inbound travel insurance package launched by Allied Insurance Company in association with the tourism ministry.
The webinar concluded with a Q&A session where participants voiced various queries. These included questions regarding requirements for PCR testing, entry requirements for vaccinated tourists of all ages, and vaccination status of resort staff.
There were 1,624 arrivals from the Norwegian market in 2020 and 43 arrivals in January. Though there is a decrease in arrivals due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the market holds great potential as Norwegians have high spending power and love to travel frequently.
In order to boost these figures, a PR agency was hired this month for the Nordic region.
In key markets, several activities are being conducted including a global campaign with Expedia and a campaign with Skyscanner in Russia, Italy and UK.
Other marketing activities to be carried out for the year include roadshows, digital and print advertisements as well as joint campaigns with other airlines.
With the increasing flight connectivities, arrivals in 2021 is projected to be favourable, with the total figure till date exceeding 200,000.
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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