With the Maldives having claimed various prime titles on the World Journey Awards, Breaking Journey Information right here catches up with tourism chief, Thoyyib Mohamed, to find how the trophies will assist the restoration from Covid-19
Breaking Journey Information: Maldives has been recognised with the highest prize of World’s Leading Destination on the World Travel Awards this yr, alongside trophies for Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination, Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Destination and Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination. How does it really feel to have received?
Thoyyib Mohamed: We’re extraordinarily proud and completely satisfied to have received these awards!
It looks like our advertising efforts and teamwork have paid off tremendously.
Along with the federal government, stakeholders and journey and tourism trade, we’ve got at all times strived to attain excellence, and that is what we’ve got achieved proper now.
We’re taking a look at the results of our onerous work and resilience.
Even throughout these unprecedented occasions, we’ve got not stopped our work in making an attempt to ensure that Maldives stays on the highest of probably the most most well-liked vacationer locations on this planet.
These awards are a testomony to the love the world has for Maldives and we wish to specific our honest gratitude to everybody who has made it potential for us to have come this far.
BTN: How helpful are the World Journey Awards trophies in the case of selling the Maldives to a world tourism market?
TM: World Journey Awards trophies are a testomony to the love the world has for us, and in addition the onerous work and resilience we’ve got put into the advertising efforts through the years, particularly this yr.
That is helpful for us as a result of it would spotlight the truth that Maldives stays secure for travellers and is without doubt one of the most desired locations on this planet.
It’s certain to offer assurance to the worldwide tourism market that Maldives is certainly a must-visit vacation spot and that our companies are impeccable, the luxurious and the experiences we provide is boundless, and we supply a pure magnificence like no different.
We’ll most undoubtedly be utilizing the receival of this award in our future advertising campaigns and endeavours to make travellers dream of visiting the vacation spot.
BTN: Having reopened to worldwide vacationers earlier this yr, how has the Maldives been recovering from the impression of the Covid-19 pandemic?
TM: The unfold of Covid-19 was extensively unfold within the nice Male’ area solely.
Our small island nation’s distinctive geographical options along with stringent measures in place are our greatest benefits in combating the unfold of Covid-19.
One of many first steps taken to curb the unfold of the virus was closing our borders on March 27th.
Nevertheless, after 4 months of border closure, Maldives as soon as once more reopened the borders to worldwide vacationers on July 15th.
Security is the locations prime precedence and already a powerful 94 per cent of resorts within the Maldives have reopened for enterprise, and a number of other lodges, visitor homes and liveaboards have resumed operation as properly, all consistent with the excellent Covid-19 secure tourism tips and hygiene certification programme issued by the Maldivian ministry of tourism in June.
All resorts, visitor homes and lodges located within the island nation are required to take protecting measures, guaranteeing the security of vacationers and employees working within the trade.
With these measures in place we at the moment are prepared and searching ahead to welcoming again vacationers to our lovely nation.
Because the reopening of the border, we’ve got been witnessing a gradual enhance within the variety of vacationer arrivals every passing month.
Vacationers from totally different components of the world are visiting Maldives to rediscover the fantastic thing about this secure haven.
In line with the newest statistics by Maldives Immigration, a complete of 56,541 vacationers arrived after reopening of the borders.
Majority of the vacationers are from Russia and UAE, adopted by the USA and UK.
Different prime arrival international locations embrace Spain, Brazil, Germany, France, India, and Egypt.
As touring to Maldives doesn’t require quarantine or self-isolation of 14 days, it makes journey simply accessible.
With the convenience of journey restrictions and the extension of the unfavourable PCR take a look at for Covid-19 from 72 hours to 96 hours previous to arrival, we’re hopeful that there shall be an extra enhance in vacationer arrivals.
The introduction of cut up keep can be an added incentive for vacationers to go to totally different vacationer institutions with prior approval as per the rules by the Ministry of Tourism.
Although it would take time, we’ll hopefully attain a beneficial degree of vacationer arrivals by the tip of the yr.
BTN: What actions might be anticipated from the Maldives Advertising & PR Company as we transfer into 2021 to make sure the market is totally recovered subsequent yr?
TM: With the outstanding milestone reached in 2019, we began off this yr with excessive hopes however as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, our advertising plans had been disrupted and we needed to provide you with new techniques and shift to digital platforms to advertise the vacation spot.
Regardless of the numerous challenges, we’ve got been working onerous to make sure that we’re a secure haven for travellers, and we’re on a quick restoration path.
We now have carried out quite a few networking conferences between trade companions like airways, tour operators, brokers and on-line journey brokers to discover what could possibly be completed collectively within the yr forward.
We now have carried out over 356 totally different advertising actions in 22 world markets. 260 actions had been carried out throughout this pandemic; a few of these embrace gala’s, webinars, FAM journeys, on-line roadshows, out of doors campaigns, digital media campaigns and extra.
We estimate over 18 carriers to fly into Maldives by the tip of November with extra to observe within the coming months and by 2021.
We’re strategically centered on focusing on all international locations which have opened borders and are capable of fly.
On this regard, we’ve got additionally developed an air journey bubble with India in addition to the UK which allows extra connectivity between the 2 international locations.
We now have additionally began a world media marketing campaign specializing in ten key markets to advertise the vacation spot on numerous on-line and print media platforms, concurrently.
Our fundamental purpose is to maintain travellers dreaming of the vacation spot and hold our vacation spot presence seen, which is able to in the end enhance travellers by subsequent yr.
Hopefully, we will attain pre Covid-19 numbers quickly.
Completely different concepts had been gathered throughout this unprecedented time and we’re gearing as much as face subsequent yr to discover new markets and try to provide you with attention-grabbing advertising techniques to make this lovely Maldives extra seen for the potential travellers.
We see large progress for the upcoming yr, and we consider we will attain the 2019 numbers.
We’re assured that with our present advertising efforts and full assist from the federal government, stakeholders and everybody within the tourism trade, we will see a major progress in vacationer arrivals.
Our hope is to extend our efforts day-to-day and proceed to work diligently to make sure that the market is totally recovered subsequent yr. Our advertising actions are fairly profitable, and we’ve got acquired excessive assist from our PR companies from key markets as properly.
We’re very grateful for his or her assist and cooperation in these making an attempt occasions as properly.
Our purpose is to work along with everybody to make sure full restoration!
Extra Info
Maldives Advertising & Public Relations Company is the federal government physique mandated with the promotion of the nation as a vacationer vacation spot.
The features of the physique embody the complete spectrum of selling and public relations actions together with analysis, surveys, grasp plans, campaigns, promoting and publicity by means of conventional media, public relations companies in different international locations and the evolving new media.
Discover out extra on the official website.
