THE MALDIVES’ inbound numbers are finally starting to pick up, after the destination posted several consecutive months of dismal results following the political upheaval in February (TTG Asia e-Daily, February 8, 2012).
The Maldives received 59,379 visitors in June, a 6.1-per cent jump over the same period last year. This was a marked improvement over the corresponding dips in May (-1.4 per cent), April (-0.8 per cent), March (-4.7 per cent) and February (-5.3 per cent).
Over the first six months of the year, the Maldives welcomed 458,068 visitors, a 2.3-per cent increase compared to January-June 2011.
“While there was a slowdown in March, April and May, we are now witnessing a pick up in business,” said Shafraz Fazley, managing director of Viluxur Holidays Male, which mainly handles the Chinese market.
“There is no reason to believe that the political unrest will (continue to affect) our business.”
While unable to provide exact figures, Fazley said that his company’s June arrivals (from China) were fairly good, while “July has been a fantastic month”.
Anantara Resorts in the Maldives has also experienced a resurgence in business of late, said Etienne de Villiers, area public relations manager for the resort chain.
“Both the short- and medium-term pickup in reservations are positive, not just from China, but also from the Middle East, Germany, Australia and others,” he said, adding that one of the chain’s Maldives resorts, Anantara Kihavah Villas, had achieved 67 per cent occupancy in July, and 77 per cent thus far for August.
