THE MALDIVES is ramping up its tourism marketing initiatives targeted at overseas markets to build on signs of recovery in April from political unrest earlier in the year.
Following roadshows in Beijing, Chengdu, Shenzhen and Hangzhou in April, the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) will organise roadshows in Singapore and South Korea next month.
MMPRC is also planning fam tours for journalists from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Lebanon.
Last month, arrival numbers to the Maldives fell by 0.8 per cent year-on-year to 79,288, compared to 5.3-per cent and 4.7-per cent drops in February and March, respectively.
German visitor numbers grew by 8.1 per cent to 10,145. The UK, once the largest inbound market, declined 20 per cent to 8,934.
The most significant recovery came from China – arrivals rose 3.5 per cent year-on-year to 10,523, after tumbling 28.4 per cent in March and 34.8 per cent in February.
