Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/Visit Maldives) is participating in the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2024, the premier global travel trade event, held at Excel London from 5th to 7th November 2024. WTM London is recognized as the most influential travel and tourism event worldwide, offering a unique platform for the global leisure travel community to network, share insights, and drive business. The Maldives is being represented by a strong delegation this year, comprising 217 representatives from 91 industry partners.

Positioned in a spacious 650 sqm single-decker stand, the Maldives stand is designed to reflect the destination’s unique geographical aspects and experiences, including 75 co-exhibitor counters, 55 B2B meeting tables, 3 industry meeting areas, and a traditional corner. Visitors can also explore the photo booth and mark the Maldives locations they have visited on a special map located in the stand.

MMPRC is engaging with leading travel trade professionals from the UK and around the world, conducting one-on-one meetings, sharing the latest updates on Maldives tourism products, and providing a platform for stakeholders to promote individual properties. The Maldives aims to maintain its status as one of the safest and most preferred holiday destinations, emphasising the geographical formation of our islands, which naturally supports seclusion and privacy for travellers.

The UK is a robust market for the Maldives, ranked as the fourth top source market with 125,016 tourist arrivals recorded as of September 2024, representing an 8.5% market share. Throughout 2024, MMPRC has been actively promoting the Maldives to the UK audience, having completed activities such as the “Discover Maldives” webinar series and several joint promotions with major travel operators.

The ‘Maldives Media Meet’ press conference was also conducted on 5th November on the sidelines of WTM 2024, where MMPRC shared further updates on the Maldives’ sustainable initiatives and its appeal as a preferred holiday destination for UK travellers, along with the launching of the ‘World’s Biggest Giveaway’ global campaign. The Maldives Media Meet was led by Mr Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO & MD of MMPRC. He was joined by Mr Ibrahim Faisal, the Honourable Minister of Tourism; Her Excellency Dr Iruthisham Adam, High Commissioner of Maldives to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Mr Abdulla Giyas Riyaz, Chairperson of MMPRC; and Mr Hussain Afeef, Maldives Tourism Industry Pioneer and Vice Chairman of Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI). The panellists at the Maldives Media Meet, along with Mr Mohamed Khaleel, Advisor to the President on Tourism Development joined the Q & A session, sharing their valuable insights in answer to the questions from the attending media.

Additional highlights of the first day at WTM 2024 include the launching of Destination Addu at the Maldives stand, celebrating our vibrant local culture and the untouched beauty of Addu.

MMPRC’s participation in WTM London 2024 underscores our commitment to strengthening relationships with key operators and media in the UK market while promoting the Maldives’ tourism offerings and ensuring continued growth in visitor numbers. The event provides a valuable opportunity for the Maldives to showcase its unique offerings, connect with industry professionals, and promote our sustainable tourism initiatives to the UK market.