Visit Maldives and Manta Air, in collaboration with leading resort and guesthouse partners, concluded a successful Explore Maldives Roadshow on 26 June at the prestigious Shangri-La Bangalore.
The roadshow aimed to reignite interest among Indian travellers and attract more Indian tourists and provided a great networking opportunity between partner resorts/guesthouses and leaders in the Indian travel industry.
The highly successful event, attended by over 130 agents and media representatives, featured leading hospitality chains from Maldives across all segments including resorts and guesthouses in the country as well as DMCs, travel agents, tour operators and MICE travel organisers from India. The presence of Indian travel industry leaders such as Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) Karnataka Chapter and Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) Karnataka Chapter provided a much-needed boost to reignite interest in Maldives as a holiday destination of choice among Indian travellers.
The day-long event kicked off with opening remarks by Ms. Jifney Rasheed, Deputy Managing Director, Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation (MMPRC), followed by presentations from key resort partners and multiple networking sessions. These sessions provided a valuable opportunity for partner resorts and guesthouses to interact with the travel agents and tour operators in attendance. The grand event, which was held with great support from partners, also saw numerous raffles and giveaways provided by resort partners exclusively for the event.
“Manta Air’s scheduled direct flights between India’s Garden City (Bangalore) and life’s sunshine (Maldives) is a major step in improving not only connectivity but also accessibility, making it easier than ever for Indian tourists to visit the Maldives and vice versa,” said Jiffney Rasheed, Deputy Managing Director, MMPRC. “As India and Maldives are close neighbours and remain good friends, it is crucial that we build bridges between our cultures.”
The roadshow featured major resort chains such as Universal Resorts, Minor Hotels with NH Collection & AVANI+, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts, as well as numerous resorts, guesthouses and local travel agencies including Colours of Oblue, Sun Siyam Resorts, Villa Hotels & Resorts, Pulse Hotels & Resorts, AAA Hotels & Resorts, Angsana Velavaru, COMO, RIU Hotels & Resorts and South Palm, showcasing the charm of the Maldives through engaging presentations and dynamic networking sessions.
“Our direct flights connecting Bangalore with resorts and guesthouses in Dhaalu Atoll have paved the way for Indian travellers to enjoy longer holiday stays at some of the Maldives’ finest resorts and guesthouses in the region,” said Ahmed Maumoon, Deputy CEO, Manta Air. “The roadshow provided an unprecedented opportunity to showcase how holidaymakers from India can avail of this direct flight, which not only shortens the time it takes to reach their destination but also saves significant money on their holiday as they do not need to make an additional domestic transfer by travelling through the busy hub of Velana International Airport. We have scheduled our Bangalore flight to ensure that holidaymakers can maximise their arrival and departure dates when travelling with Manta Air and enjoy longer holiday stays at their chosen resorts and guesthouses.”
Maumoon added, “Maldives offers free visa on arrival to Indian tourists and with ease of connectivity through our direct flights, travellers now have the option to hop on board Friday and Sunday morning flights and jet off to the tropical paradise of the Maldives for the weekend.”
“This roadshow marks an important step in strengthening tourism ties between India and the Maldives. As the travel industry continues to recover and develop, initiatives such as this are essential to drive sustained growth and enrich the travel experience of tourists from both countries. The roadshow has undoubtedly helped our resorts and guesthouses promote the Maldives as a top travel destination to the Indian market.”
The Indian travel market has been ranked as the most buoyant market for 2023. The Explore Maldives Roadshow will create a much-needed buzz in the Indian travel market and is sure to reignite interest among Indian travellers to holiday in Maldives during the upcoming Diwali and Dar Saul holidays.
