Industry players in Maldives are urging the government to spend more on destination marketing to coincide with the opening of an array of high-end resorts in the next 16 months.
More resorts are opening in Maldives in the next two years than in the past decade, with at least 1000 new rooms spread among 10 resorts being added from 2016-2017.
The suggestion for a bigger warchest was put forward by the travel trade during the Maldives Travel Conference, the country’s first such event, held earlier this month on November 19.
Speakers at the Maldives Travel Conference included PATA CEO Mario Hardy, UNDP Representative Shoko Noda, and the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) chairman Mohamed Khaleel, who, during the conference, all alluded to the need for more robust funding for promoting Maldives.
Khaleel said a bigger marketing budget may be necessary in view of the new properties that are about to open and in consideration of stiff competition coming from other destinations.
Among the resorts due to open within the next two years are the Four Seasons Private Island Maldives at Voavah, the St Regis Vommuli Resort on Dhaalu Atoll, the Soneva Jani on Noonu Atoll, and the Hurawalhi Island Resort & Spa on Lhaviyani Atoll.
