Business
Visit Maldives hosts workshop for in-house, industry marketers
A workshop held for marketers from the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC) and the industry has been concluded.
The five day workshop, organised by Visit Maldives in collaboration with facilitator Turan Ali from Bona Broadcasting, was held from August 22-27 at Maagiri Hotel.
It was attended by marketers from Visit Maldives and the industry.
Closing ceremony for the workshop was held on August 26 at the workshop venue. The Secretary General of Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) Ahmed Nazeer attended this ceremony as the chief guest and distributed certificates to the participants.
Speaking at the ceremony, Nazeer noted the importance of developing human resources in the field of marketing the destination.
“I am greatly encouraged by the fact that MMPRC values the importance of training and education. This workshop will be of immense value to you all. This workshop focused on creative marketing and storytelling. In the age of ultra-competitiveness, whereby Maldives is not just competing with similar destinations but the entire world, our marketing efforts need to be bold, innovative, and highly original,” he said.
“To achieve this, it is highly important that we invest in our most valuable assets, which is our human capital. Without doubt these types of workshops are crucial for the development of our human capital. I hope that MMPRC continues to host training initiatives like this in the future.”
While delivering a vote of thanks to organisers, trainer, and participants of the workshop, Managing Director of Visit Maldives Thoyyib Mohamed expressed hope that the participants would utilise the theories and techniques taught during the workshop.
“This workshop taught masters level theories on powerful marketing techniques and content creation by one of the best trainers in the field. I saw how engaged you all were during the training session. I hope our staff and those who participated from the industry will apply what we learned during these past couple of days in our future work,” Thoyyib said.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, facilitator and trainer, Turan Ali, said that it was a complete pleasure to work with the participants.
“It is not often I work with a group, where so consistently, across the whole group, these sophisticated theories are understood and used so quickly at such a level. I congratulate Visit Maldives for the selection of this team. I have absolute confidence you understood these theories and will sufficiently start to use it in your work,” he noted.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Market Director of Marriott Bonvoy Maldives Resorts, Ali Nihad thanked MMPRC for organising such an event, citing that it had been a truly great learning experience. He said that he and his fellow participants were looking forward to putting into practice the valuable lessons learned during this workshop.
The purpose of the workshop was to further elevate writing and persuasion techniques of marketers, so as to create effective content which persuades people to choose Maldives as their destination of choice.
The workshop introduced participants to principles and techniques of putting creative, persuasive stories and symbols at the heart of marketing. The workshop’s approach placed story, symbols, subtext and persuasion as the heart of powerful marketing.
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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