Business
Visit Maldives kicks off training webinar series for French travel trade
A training webinar series for the French travel trade kicked off on Friday on the My Virtual Maldives platform.
Conducted in French language, the aim of the webinar series is to educate the French travel trade about the Maldives with the latest information. This would help agents acquire all the updates to sell the Maldives in time when leisure travel resumes from France.
The webinar series which is scheduled for every quarter of the year, will each focus on a different theme of interest.
Apart from the destination presentation, industry partners will be invited to talk about their product on offer respective to the theme.
The theme for Friday’s session was, “Water Activities in the Maldives”.
Subsequent sessions will cover Honeymoon in Maldives, Sustainable tourism in Maldives, and Local culture and Guesthouses.
The first session focused on the variety of watersports and water activities visitors can experience in Maldives. The latest guidelines and rules regarding Covid-19 pandemic were also provided along with the destination information.
In addition, the natural distanced geography of Maldives and the stringent safety measures were also discussed.
Pullman Maldives Resort and Paradise Island Resort participated in the session. In order to make the session more interactive, a raffle was held after the online quiz where Pullman Maldives sponsored a holiday for two people in the Maldives.
With over a 150 French agents in attendance, the session ended with a Q&A where agents cleared specific information about the destination.
The latest updates, guidelines, health and safety measures regarding the pandemic will be highlighted during the sessions.
To promote Maldives as one of the safest destinations to travel to right now, an emphasis will be placed on the naturally isolated geography of Maldives and the stringent safety measures in place.
By the end of the sessions, the participants will be well informed regarding the Maldives, individual products, experiences, and the latest guidelines.
As France is currently under a semi-lockdown and strict travel restrictions are imposed, the campaign provides an opportunity in training the French travel trade so they are updated on the latest news and guidelines once France lifts travel restrictions for French travellers.
Visit Maldives has recently concluded a campaign in France with the French tour operator Very Chic.
Other major activities planned for the year targeting the French market include partnership with tour operator amplitudes, social and digital media campaign with Odigeo, media familiarisation trips and participation at the International French Travel Market (IFTM Top Resa) and International Luxury Travel Mart (ILTM).
Several of these activities will commence once France lifts travel restrictions for French travellers.
As of March 24, France is ranked at the eighth position among the highest performing markets to Maldives with a 2.6 per cent market share. So far in 2021, Maldives has welcomed a total of 6,883 arrivals from France.
France remains a key focus market in the recovery of tourism in Maldives and the target is to achieve pre-pandemic growth levels.
Maldives reopened its borders for tourists of all nationalities on July 15, 2020, with rigorous procedures in place to ensure the safety of tourists and tourism workers. Tourists are required to fill an online health declaration form within 24 hours prior to their departure, as well as have a negative PCR test result, conducted 96 hours prior to their departure.
On February 1, Maldives initiated the administration of the Covid-19 vaccine, and the government aims to provide free Covid-19 vaccine to all citizens and residents of Maldives in the upcoming months.
The tourism ministry has also launched an initiative to vaccinate people in the tourism sector to develop an even safer scenario for the industry. As of March 25, 224,979 people have received the vaccine including 14,898 frontline workers in the tourism industry.
The initiation of the vaccination drive is bound to offer hope to the local population, as well as ensure the safety of tourists. This conveys the message that Maldives is a low-risk destination for travellers and will hopefully generate a surge in tourist arrivals.
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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