Abdulla Ghiyas, president of the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), has been named the 2018 PATA Face of the Future.
MATATO is engaged in various activities such as advocacy and lobbying, training and workshops, fam trips, loan schemes via different financial institutions, recognition programmes, travel conferences and forums, publications and more. The association last year organised destination stands and road shows, exhibiting brand Maldives in 14 countries around the world.
Abdulla is also deputy managing director of Inner Maldives Holidays, as well as director for Ace Travels Maldives and Spence Maldives, which are joint ventures with Sri Lankan blue chip conglomerate Aitken Spence.
Testament to his abilities, he was the youngest board director of the Maldives Monetary Authority from 2014 to 2017. In 2010, Chamber International Maldives named him one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons in Maldives for his role in the business turnaround in Inner Maldives Holiday.
Abdulla also contributes to the Consulate of the Republic of Seychelles to the Maldives as the deputy.
As the 2018 PATA Face of the Future, Abdulla will also be invited to join the 2018/2019 PATA executive board as a non-voting member and observer.
Last year, the PATA Face of the Future accolade was awarded to Faeez Fadhlillah, CEO and co-founder of travel booking engine Tripfez.
