The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation and Qatar Airways signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 9 May to conduct joint and individual campaigns to increase inbound air traffic to the Maldives.
The MoU was signed at the Qatar Airways stand on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) at the Dubai World Trade Center.
Promotional and marketing activities will be launched in key identified markets, including joint B2B and B2C campaigns, familiarization trips for travel partners and media influencers, and joint activities with trade partners. “The MOU further stipulates aligning on future plans, with both parties assessing and contributing in order to implement the activities within the target markets to promote the Maldives as a travel destination,” according to the MMPRC.
Speaking at a panel discussion during the 9th Arab Aviation Summit in Dubai earlier this year, MMPRC CEO Thoyyib Mohamed called for the tourism and the aviation industry to work closely together to overcome challenges. Briefing the press at the recently concluded Arabian Travel Fair, Thoyyib stressed the importance of the Middle Eastern market to the ongoing recovery of tourism in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Qatar Airways was among the first international airlines to resume flights after the Maldives reopened borders in July 2020. At present, 35 international airlines operate flights to the Maldives, including leading Middle Eastern carriers such as Emirates Airlines, Fly Dubai, Etihad Airways, and Gulf Air.
