In a move designed to revive Indian travel to the Maldives, the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) to enhance tourism cooperation between the Maldives and India.
The move is expected to draw more outbound travellers from India, after a political fallout between the two countries in January this year saw a sharp drop in Indian visitors to the Maldives. Until then, India was the biggest source market for the tiny Indian Ocean nation that annually attracts big spenders to its 200-plus standalone resort islands.
The collaborations aims to draw more outbound travellers from India to the Maldives
In a statement, MATATO said the key objectives of the MoU include promoting bilateral tourism through joint marketing initiatives; sharing best practices to improve service standards and operational efficiencies; organising joint events, roadshows, and fairs to highlight travel opportunities; and promoting sustainable tourism practices.
As such, MATATO has planned to hold roadshows in Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore, the major Indian cities with the best flight connectivity.
Earlier in April, MATATO president Abdulla Ghiyas told TTG Asia that the association has confirmed one roadshow in Bangalore, while the other two were to be finalised at meetings with Indian authorities attending Arabian Travel Mart 2024 in Dubai last month.
MATATO is the Maldives main tourism body dedicated to the development and promotion of the travel and tourism industry in the Maldives, while IATO is represents over 1,800 tour operators across India.
The Maldives’ economy depends largely on tourism, and has been caught in between political rivalry with its two main markets – India and China – after the recently-elected president Mohamed Muizzu won based on a pro-China stance compared to his predecessor favouring India.
Arrivals this year as of May 27 reached 879,885, a 10.8 per cent increase from the same period last year. This year’s target is 2.1 million arrivals, up from 1.9 million last year. China, once the largest source market for the Maldives but displaced due to Covid-19 travel bans, has regained its top position as Indian arrivals declined.
In a move designed to revive Indian travel to the Maldives, the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) to enhance tourism cooperation between the Maldives and India.
The move is expected to draw more outbound travellers from India, after a political fallout between the two countries in January this year saw a sharp drop in Indian visitors to the Maldives. Until then, India was the biggest source market for the tiny Indian Ocean nation that annually attracts big spenders to its 200-plus standalone resort islands.
In a statement, MATATO said the key objectives of the MoU include promoting bilateral tourism through joint marketing initiatives; sharing best practices to improve service standards and operational efficiencies; organising joint events, roadshows, and fairs to highlight travel opportunities; and promoting sustainable tourism practices.
As such, MATATO has planned to hold roadshows in Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore, the major Indian cities with the best flight connectivity.
Earlier in April, MATATO president Abdulla Ghiyas told TTG Asia that the association has confirmed one roadshow in Bangalore, while the other two were to be finalised at meetings with Indian authorities attending Arabian Travel Mart 2024 in Dubai last month.
MATATO is the Maldives main tourism body dedicated to the development and promotion of the travel and tourism industry in the Maldives, while IATO is represents over 1,800 tour operators across India.
The Maldives’ economy depends largely on tourism, and has been caught in between political rivalry with its two main markets – India and China – after the recently-elected president Mohamed Muizzu won based on a pro-China stance compared to his predecessor favouring India.
Arrivals this year as of May 27 reached 879,885, a 10.8 per cent increase from the same period last year. This year’s target is 2.1 million arrivals, up from 1.9 million last year. China, once the largest source market for the Maldives but displaced due to Covid-19 travel bans, has regained its top position as Indian arrivals declined.