The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) hosted its annual Tourism Marketeers Evening on 28 September after a two-year hiatus.
Over 40 tourism professionals took part in the event to share feedback, ideas, and opinions for destination marketing strategies in 2023.
“MMPRC has always prioritised working in collaboration with the industry when we craft the strategies that promote the Maldives as a destination. The ideas, feedback, and even criticism we get from our industry partners are crucial to constantly keep improving our brand. I am extremely grateful to all the attendants for the tremendous support we received for this year’s Tourism Marketeers Evening,” MMPRC CEO Thoyyib Mohamed said in his remarks at the ceremony.
Discussions on marketing activities such as fairs, roadshows, and familiarisation trips took place at the event along with the exchange of ideas on markets, segments, social media and promotional materials.
According to the MMPRC, one of the most exciting discussions was under the theme of ‘Working together through challenges,’ which focused on addressing uncertain situations that arise within the industry due to external factors, geopolitical circumstances, and the potential ways to avert and manage such crises. Tourism industry representatives also shared their ideas, opinions, and suggestions for MMPRC’s destination marketing plan for the upcoming year.
“Stakeholder input has always been a key component of MMPRC’s strategic planning process. Continuing our annual Tourism Marketeers Evening, following a two-year hiatus due to the covid-19 pandemic, is one of several activities conducted throughout the year to gather industry ideas and feedback,” the MMPRC said.
“The event included sharing ideas on innovative destination marketing and discussions on delivering similar destination messages from the entire Maldivian travel trade rather than fragmented messages. Sessions such as this help us and the industry to build a cohesive, strong, and alluring ‘Maldives’ brand. The brainstorming sessions and feedback will also help us work even closer together with our industry partners in the years to come.”
Anastasiya Babenko, Marketing and PR Manager of LUX South Ari Atoll, said: “This was a very nice event. Lovely. It was so nice to meet everyone in person, all the helpful people from MMPRC, because you guys are so collaborative and we always talk over emails so it’s great to meet everyone who is in touch with us. It was great to meet different members of the event who have different ideas and perspectives. Thank you so much.”
According to the MMPRC, destination marketing efforts carried throughout the year is a coordinated effort with industry partners. By the end of August 2022, the MMPRC promoted the Maldives at 32 fairs, three roadshows in seven cities, organized 16 familiarization trips, joined six virtual events, and conducted 12 joint promotions and 12 social media campaigns in addition to 63 other marketing campaigns. The government tourism promotion company also engages PR agencies to implement PR and Trade Strategies in 15 key markets around the world.
