Visit Maldives, Manta Air successfully conclude roadshow in India
Saturday 29th of June 2024
Visit Maldives and Manta Air, along with key resort and guest house partners, successfully concluded the "Explore Maldives" roadshow held at the prestigious Shangri-La Bengaluru on June 26, 2024. The roadshow aimed to reignite the interest of Indian travelers and attract more tourists from India to the Maldives. It provided excellent networking opportunities between the partner resorts, guest houses, and travel industry leaders in India.
The highly successful event, attended by over 130 agents and media personnel, saw participation from major hospitality chains in the Maldives, covering all segments including resorts and guest houses. Representatives from Destination Management Companies (DMCs), travel agents, tour operators, and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) travel organizers from India were also present. The participation of travel industry leaders from the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) Karnataka Chapter and the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) Karnataka Chapter added significant momentum to reignite interest among Indian travelers to consider the Maldives as their preferred holiday destination.
The full-day event opened with a speech by the Deputy Managing Director of the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC), Mr. Zihuny Rasheed, followed by presentations from key resort partners. Multiple networking sessions provided invaluable opportunities for the partner resorts and guest houses to engage with attending travel agents and tour operators. The grand event, hosted with tremendous support from the partners, also featured numerous raffles and giveaways exclusively for the event.
"Manta Air’s regular direct flights between the Garden City of India (Bengaluru) and the Sunny Side of Life (Maldives) is a significant step forward in not only improving connectivity but also accessibility, making it easier than ever for Indian tourists to reach our shores, and vice versa," said Mr. Zihuny Rasheed. "Building bridges between our cultures is vital, as India and the Maldives remain close neighbors and good friends."
The roadshow featured participation from major resort chains such as Universal Resorts, Minor Hotels with NH Collection & AVANI+, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts along with Colors of OBLU, Sun Siyam Resorts, Villa Hotels & Resorts, PULSE Hotels & Resorts, AAA Hotels & Resorts, Angsana Velavaru, COMO, RIU Hotels & Resorts, South Palm, and many more. These resorts and guest houses showcased the appeal of the Maldives through captivating presentations and dynamic networking sessions.
"Our flights providing direct connectivity between Bengaluru and the resorts and guesthouses in Dhaalu Atoll have paved the way for Indian travelers to enjoy more time holidaying at some of the finest resorts and guesthouses in the Maldives located in the region," said Ahmed Maumoon, Deputy CEO of Manta Air. "The roadshow gave us an unprecedented opportunity to showcase how holidaymakers from India can take advantage of this direct route that not only reduces the time required to reach their holiday destination but also provides immense cost savings by eliminating the need for additional domestic transfers when flying through the busy hub of Velana International Airport. We have scheduled our Bengaluru flights in such a way that holidaymakers can take full advantage of the arrival and departure dates that allow them to spend more time holidaying at the resort or guesthouse of their choice when they fly with Manta Air."
Maumoon further added, "Given that the Maldives offers free visa on arrival for Indian tourists, combined with the ease of connectivity provided by our direct flights, travelers now have the option to just hop into the tropical paradise of the Maldives for the weekend, taking advantage of our morning flights on Fridays and Sundays."
The roadshow represents a significant step in strengthening the tourism bond between India and the Maldives. As the travel industry continues to recover and evolve, such initiatives are crucial in driving sustained growth and enriching the travel experiences of tourists from both countries. The roadshow has undoubtedly helped partner resorts and guesthouses to promote the Maldives as a top destination to the Indian market.
In 2023, the Indian travel market was ranked as the best-performing market for the Maldives. The "Explore Maldives" roadshow has created a much-needed buzz in the Indian travel market, which will surely reignite interest among Indian travelers towards vacationing in the Maldives during the upcoming Diwali and Dasara holidays.