The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) promoted the Maldives at the United Kingdom’s Travel Bulletin Indian Ocean Showcase 2023, held in Chelmsford, Essex on 31 January.
Travel Bulletin is a top UK travel trade brand offering news, training, networking events and opportunity for travel agents to meet with key international sellers of tourism products, services and destinations. The Travel Bulletin Indian Ocean Showcase event provides a platform for sellers and buyers to meet and network, create business contacts and deals. The Maldives was represented at the event by MMPRC’s PR for the UK market.
According to the MMPRC, a 30-minute B2B networking session was held with the attendees prior to the one-day event. The MMPRC had a designated table at the venue where 10-minute speed networking sessions with destination presentations were given to groups of 8-10 travel agents at a round table setting. In addition to a networking dinner, special gift hampers, gift vouchers and free holiday raffles were given away as part of the event by participants.
“The purpose of participating in this event is to meet and network with top travel trade partners from the region, to maintain and strengthen the Maldives brand in the market, and to share the most up-to-date information about the Maldives and our tourism products including unique experiences,” the MMPRC said.
The UK was one of top source markets to the Maldives last year with 179,312 arrivals by 31st December 2022, representing 10.7% of the total market share. The MMPRC held several activities in this market last year to maintain destination momentum, including participation in major fairs such as the WTM London 2022, destination roadshows in London, Manchester and Newcastle, marketing and brand awareness campaigns with travel agents, tour operators, and media outlets as well as familiarisation trips. According to the MMPRC, several similar activities are planned to be held throughout 2023 for this market as well.
