A STRONG delegation of 30 to 40 delegates from the Maldivian government and private sector are making a big pitch to buyers at ITB this week that all is well in paradise.
Discussions are also underway to revive the old and familiar “Sunny Side of Life” slogan, a move welcomed by Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators. The slogan was said to work better and re-branding would require a lot of funding.
The 11-year-old “Sunny Side of Life” was replaced last October with a new slogan called “Maldives – Always Natural”.
Sim Mohamed Ibrahim, secretary-general of the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry, said: “This (ITB) is a good opportunity to meet clients from our main source markets and allay fears that tourists need not worry coming to the Maldives.”
There have been cancellations of bookings since political unrest erupted in Male, the capital of the Maldives, after former President Mohamed Nasheed stepped down on February 7.
