Maldives has witnessed a remarkable surge in tourism, with nearly 100,000 tourists welcomed so far this year, spearheaded by a significant influx from China. While China ranked third in tourist arrivals last year, it has ascended to the top spot by May 14 of this year, with 92,773 visitors, comprising approximately 11.1% of total arrivals. Following closely behind is Russia, with 84,162 tourists.

The exponential increase in Chinese tourist arrivals marks a noteworthy shift in travel patterns, considering that China occupied the 27th spot in tourist arrival rankings in the previous year.

Statistics from the Ministry of Tourism reveal a robust uptick in tourism overall, with 833,728 tourists having visited the Maldives by this point in the year, reflecting an impressive 11.6% increase compared to the same period last year.

The top countries contributing to tourist arrivals in the Maldives include China, Russia, the UK, Italy, and Germany. On average, each tourist spends approximately seven days in the Maldives, with an average of 4,263 visitors arriving daily. This consistent influx has spurred the government to set an ambitious target of attracting 2 million tourists by year-end.

To achieve this goal, collaborative efforts between the government and the tourism industry are underway, with various promotional activities planned to showcase the Maldives as an irresistible destination for travelers worldwide.

Source(s): PsmNews

Maldives has been named as the Official Partner Destination of ITB China 2024.

ITB China 2024 will be held in Shanghai from May 27th to May 29th. Maldives will showcase its offerings ITB China’s largest national pavilion with more than 40 travel companies as co-exhibitors during the three-day B2B event.

The aim of the partnership is to attract more Chinese tourists – which currently stands as the top tourist market to the Maldives – and to put the island destination in the spotlight of China’s outbound travel market, as reported by Travel Trade Maldives (TTM).

Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC)’s CEO and Managing Director Fathimath Thaufeeg remarked that Maldives is honored to be designated the title.

“We are excited about the opportunity to engage with our global partners and the travel trade from China to share the latest updates about the Maldives, our tourism products and unparalleled offerings. This partnership allows us to showcase our destination’s unique beauty and reinforce our position as the top-of-mind destination for travelers from China and worldwide,” she added.

During the event, MMPRC will host various engaging activities within its booth to showcase and promote the wide range of tourism offerings. Attendees can participate in B2B meetings and insightful interviews to learn more about the island destination. They can also immerse themselves in gastronomical and cultural experiences to taste the authentic culture and heritage of the Maldives.

MMPRC will provide information about the latest products, services, and experiences through promotional materials and face-to-face meetings. They are also scheduled to hold a press conference on the first day of the event to provide the opportunity for engagement with and from attending media.

Source(s): sun.mv

Maldives has won four prestigious titles at the World Travel Awards (WTA) – Indian Ocean category, including the award for the region’s leading destination.

The WTA Indian Ocean awards were presented on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) at Dubai World Trade Center on Monday.

The Maldives won:

• Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2024
• Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination 2024
• Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination 2024
• Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination 2024

The award for Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination was accepted by Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal, whole the award for Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination was accepted by Ayesha Nurain Janah, Chairperson of Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC).

Meanwhile, the award for Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination was accepted by MMPRC’s Managing Director Fathmath Thaufeeq, and the award for Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination was accepted by Mohamed Khaleel, an advisor to the Maldivian president on tourism development.

In a statement announcing the achievement, MMPRC said the significance of the awards highlights the Maldives’ standing as an unparalleled tourist destination, showcases the country’s commitment to delivering unforgettable experiences to visitors from around the world, and reinforces the continued efforts of MMPRC in promoting and developing the nation’s tourism sector.

Maldives has dominated the WTA Indian Ocean awards since the category was introduced in 2003, winning the Leading Destination title 17 times, the Leading Honeymoon Destination title six times, and the Leading Dive Destination title nine times.

But this marks the first year the Maldives has been recognized as a Green Destination, highlighting the country’s commitment to sustainable tourism.

“Winning these awards will indeed enhance the image of the destination as a high-profile luxury destination among visitors. These awards indicate visitors’ love and confidence towards the Maldives, a huge step towards World’s Leading Destination!” reads the MMPRC’s statement.

Established in 1993, the WTA are widely regarded as one of the most respected and popular awards in the world of travel and tourism. Symbolizing the most outstanding endorsement in tourism, and the travel industry, the awards aim to recognize and reward achievements in all aspects of travel and tourism on a global scale.

Maldives was crowned the World’s Leading Destination for the fourth year running at the 2023 World Travel Awards.

The Indian Ocean destination recorded 1.8 million arrivals last year, and is eying a record 2 million visitors this year.

Source(s): sun.mv