Hosting World Travel Awards will encourage event-based tourism in Maldives: Maleeh

Deputy Minister of Tourism Mohamed Maleeh Jamal has said that hosting important events such as the World Travel Awards would encourage event-based tourism in the Maldives.

Speaking at a press conference held by Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) at Velaanaage today, to provide information on the ‘World Travel Awards 2013, Indian Ocean Category’ to be held in the Maldives on 12 May, Maleeh said that the Maldivian economy would benefit from Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism.

He said that tourist arrival numbers can be constant throughout the year if Maldives, presently identified as a market for divers, surfers and honeymooners, can host events.

“While Maldives tourism celebrates its 40th anniversary, the main group of tourists who come here are honeymooners. In addition to that we have the diving market segment. And we also have surfers. We have several such market segments. If events or different tourism segments can be introduced, occupancy can be held constant throughout the year. That would benefit the resorts,” he said.

Maleeh said that MICE tourism is about holding big conventions, and that hosting small events at a luxury location such as the Maldives would greatly benefit the Maldives’ profile.

“Our research shows that about 2,000 such events are held in the Asian region. Even if we can attract one percent of this, we can hold about 20 events in the Maldives every year,” he said.

He said that event-based tourism is the global business travel industry, which is an industry worth one trillion dollars, and that the Maldives should not hesitate in its efforts to develop and attract this trillion-dollar industry.

Maleeh said that hosting the World Travel Awards would benefit the Maldivian economy as the event will be covered by international media, and also help advertise the Maldives through the promotion slogan ‘Sunny side of life’.