TravTalk India Online Magazine
Returning to the Indian market with a 360-degree marketing blitz and a wealth of diverse offerings, Maldives aims to welcome 2 million visitors this year. The country is set to boost its MICE and wedding segments by constructing convention centres and enhancing air connectivity, shares Zihuny Rasheed, Deputy Managing Director, Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation.
Amita Pandey
Maldives is pulling out all the stops to reclaim its tourism business in India. Zihuny Rasheed, Deputy Managing Director, Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), said that they have various plans to attract Indian visitors. “In terms of promotion, MMPRC is doing a lot to rejuvenate tourism in India. We have a 360-degree marketing angle that we look into,” he said, adding that MMPRC actively organises Fam trips, invites Indian celebrities or influencers to Maldives and encourages them to share their experience on their platforms. “We are hosting events such as a roadshow in partnership with Maldives’ Association for Travel Agents (ATA) in the upcoming months in three major cities – Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai – to engage with various stakeholders across the industry to accelerate this process. Moreover, we are planning to join ITB India this year,” said Rasheed, adding that the focus would be to ensure that the correct information is passed down to Indian travellers and tour agents, as they are not aware of the multifarious offerings present in the country.
He said that besides being a honeymoon destination, Maldives has a lot of multifaceted tourism offerings, but it did not market it earlier. “There is ample opportunity in the market to diversify our tourism products, which we are currently doing,” he added.
Destination offerings
Rasheed said that from North to South, Maldives has numerous offerings that need to be highlighted and experienced, specially by repeat Indian tourists. “Maldives has 100 dive spots scattered across the nation. There are adventure sports like surfing, and the country is also hosting tournaments to promote sports events. Even the cuisine available in Maldives is something that Indian tourists can savour. Tourists can also avail the country’s wellness tourism, popular for its world-class spas, along with the traditional Maldivian wellness knowledge like Dhivehi beys,” he added.
Another unique offering that is booming in Maldives is the budget-friendly accommodations. Moreover, a 30-day free visa entry in Maldives for international tourists is another aspect that makes it an attractive destination.
Focus segments
Malaysia has an ambitious target to welcome more than two million visitors this year. “Currently, the focus segment of Maldives is going to be honeymooners and families as always. But beyond that, the sports enthusiasts and the youth are the target segment for the country,” he revealed. He added that Maldives is trying to grow MICE and wedding segment within the next five years. “We are in dialogue with Maldivian government to construct more auditoriums and convention centres, which will enable us to draw more tourists,” he revealed.
