Tourism Breaking News
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/ Visit Maldives) participated in the Riyadh Travel Fair (RTF) 2024, organised from 27-29 May 2024. Alongside 17 participants representing 9 companies, MMPRC showcased Maldives as a luxury destination in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). MMPRC’s contribution in the fair was to strengthen the presence of Sunny Side of Life in the KSA market, achieve growth in arrivals, promote segments of tourism, and target affluent travellers in the Middle Eastern luxury segment.
Riyadh Travel Fair 2024, convened in the Saudi Capital of Riyadh, is considered as a significant annual event where the leading travel and tourism companies of Saudi Arabia, GCC and other countries gather, with exhibitors representing tourist promotion authorities and tourist companies at the Arab and international levels. RTF is a market for the introduction of tourist products, services, and investments provided by the most significant tourist companies in the world. Corporate travel decision makers, investors, tour operators, travel agents representing VIP clients, and other industry professionals take part in the event every year.
At RTF 2024, the Maldives stand offered visitors a glimpse of the Sunny Side of Life. The stand was thoughtfully curated to showcase the diverse segments of the Maldives’ tourism industry, including luxury travel, family holidays, adventure holidays, and cultural experiences. The vibrant and colourful stand featured a range of unique experiences, including a social media contest and a special giveaway. Cultural experiences, such as a Dhivehi Calligraphy Corner, and gastronomy experiences were offered to the visitors, who got a chance to sample Maldivian delicacies.
Through the event, Visit Maldives aimed to promote and market the Maldives as the world’s leading destination. It marketed its tourism products, namely resorts, guesthouses, liveaboards, and hotels, as well as the unique services and experiences. The fair provided MMPRC and its industry partners a valuable platform to share their latest travel tips and information about the destination with the travel trade and travellers from this market and around the world. Furthermore, the fair provided remarkable opportunities for the industry partners to connect with the Middle Eastern travel trade and establish new business connections. Participation in the Riyadh Travel Fair was a part of the marketing strategies of MMPRC for the KSA market, based on past campaigns to increase the reach, bookings and arrivals from the region.
Saudi Arabia is currently ranked 21st in the market arrivals to the Maldives. MMPRC has planned several activities targeting the Middle East market under the effort to maintain destination presence and increase arrivals. This includes joint-marketing campaigns; informative webinars; participation in major fairs and exhibitions; and hosting roadshows, familiarisation trips.
