Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has initiated exhibiting the Maldives at the biggest travel trade event held in India, OTM Mumbai.
The fair is being held in Mumbai, India, from the March 14-16, at the Bombay Exhibition Center. MMPRC stated the aim of exhibiting the Maldives at the fair as the partner country is to further strengthen the Maldives’ brand visibility in this market.
OTM, also referred to as the gateway to India's largest travel market, is one of the largest international gatherings of travel trade buyers and professionals in India. This event provides the opportunity for the international travel trade to meet tourism professionals and build long-term business relations from around the world. This year's OTM event will see over 1,100 exhibitors from 55 countries, with visitor figures estimated to reach over 30,000 during the three days of the event.
The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of MMPRC, Thoyyib Mohamed, participated in a panel discussion held on the sidelines of OTM under the title “The Importance of India-Outbound in the Post Pandemic Market Recovery”. Speaking at this panel discussion, Thoyyib addressed the current position of the market and the ongoing efforts by MMPRC and industry stakeholders to maintain the Maldives as one of the most preferred destinations among Indians. MMPRC was also conferred an award by One Above Agency, one of the leading travel agencies of India, in recognition for the work done by the corporation in the Indian market. The award was titled “Friend of Indian Outbound Travel Fraternity”.
As the partner country of OTM, Maldives is entitled to visibility on both offline and online components of the fair. As such, the Maldives will be promoted as a preferred holiday destination for Indians by highlighting tourism products and segments and experiences at strategic locations of the venue. The participation of the Maldives was communicated to over 50,000 agents in the organizers database through official presses and emailers.
Maldives will be represented by MMPRC at a designated stand at OTM 2022, along with 18 co-exhibitors. MMPRC said participation at the event will help to promote the Maldives as a safe haven for travelers and update the Indian travel trade with the latest information and travel guidelines from the destination. Throughout the event, MMPRC will showcase the geographical advantages of the scattered islands of the Maldives, allowing natural social distancing, and making the nation one of the safest destinations for tourists.
India was the largest market in 2021 with over 278,740 travelers and a market share of 22.6%. Similarly, India was the largest market in 2020 with an arrival figure of 62,960 and a market share of 11.3%. MMPRC has been participating in fairs and exhibitions and holding several activities for this market in order to maintain destination momentum and further increase arrivals from this market. This includes virtual and in-person activities such as major marketing campaigns with stakeholders, webinars, roadshows and familiarisation trips.