The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), also known as Visit Maldives, is participating in the World Travel Market (WTM) Africa from April 3-5, 2023, in Cape Town, South Africa. The Maldives delegation consists of 21 participants representing 13 companies, all of whom are excited to showcase the beauty and unique experiences of Maldivian tourism to the South African market.

WTM Africa is Africa’s leading and only business-to-business (B2B) exhibition for inbound and outbound African travel and tourism markets, attracting over 6,000 travel industry professionals. The exhibition provides a great opportunity for travel trade industry professionals to connect, network, and explore new business opportunities. The fair brings together corporate travel decision-makers, potential investors, tour operators, travel agents with VIP clients, and other travel industry professionals.

The Maldives is exhibited at a 60 square meter stand, which is designed to showcase the “Sunny Side of Life” with its breathtaking scenery. The stand provides an ideal area for visitors to experience the beauty of the Maldives while having productive meetings and participating in events such as trade surveys and social media amplification promotions. Visit Maldives, along with its industry partners, is showcasing the various products, experiences, and segments of Maldivian tourism. These industry partners will also have the opportunity to connect with the South African market and develop business relationships that can help strengthen ties between Africa and the Maldives.

MMPRC’s participation in WTM Africa is an excellent opportunity to establish the Maldives as a top destination for potential long-haul holiday makers, achieve targeted growth for tourism products, and increase arrivals in various segments. The South African market is particularly promising for the Maldives, as it has consistently shown growth over the years. South African travelers express strong interest in the Maldives as a holiday destination, and by March 25, 2023, the Maldives had welcomed 1,917 arrivals from the South African market. In our efforts to promote the Maldives in this market, MMPRC has been carrying out a campaign with VoyagesAfriq, an African travel and tourism media outlet. We have also planned a joint campaign with Thompsons Holidays for 2023, specifically targeting South African travelers.

The Maldives delegation’s participation in the WTM Africa is an exciting opportunity to showcase the beauty and unique experiences of Maldivian tourism to the South African market. It is a platform to connect with the travel trade, strengthen the Maldives brand presence in the South African market, and offer information on the latest updates from the Maldives tourism industry. The exhibition provides a chance for the Maldives to establish itself as a top destination for long-haul holiday makers, achieve targeted growth for tourism products, and increase arrivals in various segments.