A high-level Maldivian delegation has held a series of meetings in Shanghai as part of efforts to increase tourist arrivals from China, the Maldives' largest source market for visitors.
The meetings were held during an official visit to China by a delegation comprising senior government officials and representatives of state-owned enterprises and industry organisations involved in the tourism sector.
The delegation includes senior officials from the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Maldivian, the national airline, and leading tourism industry associations.
The delegation is led by State Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Haris Mohamed and Managing Director of MMPRC Ibrahim Shiuree.
During the visit, the delegation met representatives of Shanghai-based travel companies ABC Travel and Run Tour, as well as Megacap, the General Sales Agent for Maldivian in China, to discuss ways of increasing Chinese tourist arrivals to the Maldives.
Discussions focused on developing travel packages tailored to the Chinese market and strengthening business-to-business partnerships to attract more visitors.
The meetings also explored ways to further promote the Maldives among Chinese travellers through new marketing campaigns and enhance air connectivity between the Maldives and China.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, 174,201 tourists from China have visited the Maldives so far this year, making China the country's largest tourism source market.