A high-level Maldivian delegation has embarked on an official visit to China to further strengthen the promotion of the Maldives as a tourist destination in the Chinese market. During the visit, the delegation will hold meetings with Chinese airlines and tour operators.
The visit, taking place from the 1st to the 11th of this month, includes senior representatives from the Government as well as executives from state-owned tourism-related companies and organisations. Alongside officials from Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC), the delegation also includes representatives from Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), the national airline Maldivian, and leading tourism industry associations.
The delegation is headed by the Minister of State for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Haris Mohamed, and the Managing Director of Visit Maldives Corporation, Ibrahim Shiuree.
As part of the visit to what remains one of the Maldives' most important tourism markets, the delegation will travel to three Chinese cities: the capital, Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu.
VMC stated that the mission forms part of the Government's broader efforts to strengthen the country's tourism sector despite the current challenges facing international tourism and global travel. The Government's objective is to reinforce ties with the Maldives' key source markets and identify more convenient travel options for visitors in response to changing global conditions.
VMC said the visit is also intended to maintain confidence in the Maldives as a premier holiday destination while supporting sustainable growth in the tourism industry.
During the visit, the delegation is scheduled to meet Chinese government officials, airline representatives, tour operators, travel agents and travel technology companies. Dedicated networking events will also be held in the three cities to promote the Maldives as a destination.
According to figures released by the tourism ministry, more than 168,677 Chinese tourists have visited the Maldives so far this year, representing a 19.8 per cent increase compared with the same period last year. Statistics from recent years continue to show that China remains the Maldives' largest tourism source market.