The Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is scheduled to begin tomorrow, with Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) making final preparations for the Maldives' participation in this year's fair.
A total of 165 representatives from 74 Maldivian companies will participate alongside VMC at the event, which will run from 14 to 17 of this month at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
In a special interview with PSM News, Visit Maldives Corporation Managing Director Abdulla Yaasir said VMC was finalising preparations to promote Maldivian tourism at ATM, the largest tourism fair in the Middle East. He added that work on the Maldives stand for this year's fair had already been completed.
Managing Director Yasir said representatives from resorts and guesthouses, as well as other parties active in the Maldivian tourism industry, will participate in this year's fair.
"We are now making the final preparations for the fair. Work on the Maldives stand has also been completed. Despite the challenges, we believe we are fully prepared for the fair. We hope that, despite the situation facing the Middle East, we can fully promote Maldivian tourism through the fair and benefit from doing so," Managing Director Yasir said.
As in previous years, business-to-business meetings will take place during this year's fair. Plans also include signing memoranda of understanding with Qatar Airways, Emirates and Dnata, the largest tour operator in the Middle East.
The Middle East is an important market for the Maldivian tourism industry. Statistics published by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation show that more than 80,000 tourists from Middle Eastern countries visited the Maldives last year alone.
The Government believes the fair will help increase the number of tourists arriving in the Maldives from Middle Eastern countries and contribute to the growth of the country's tourism industry.