To celebrate the reopening of the Maldivian borders to all nationalities this week, and to launch a new tourism campaign entitled “Rediscover Maldives…the sunny side of life”, Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) hosted a virtual press conference with international media from twenty-one countries.
The new tourism campaign aims to strengthen the market presence globally and entice tourists to visit the Maldives when they can. All marketing activities will be carried out under the tagline “Rediscover Maldives…the sunny side of life” for the rest of 2020.
In the opening statement, Mr. Thoyyib Mohamed, Managing Director of MMPRC, spoke about how the government and private sector have been working hard to ensure safety and hygiene standards for travellers in the new normal. He also highlighted that the Maldives is fully prepared to welcome back tourists and that the safety of tourists and resort staff is the top priority.
The remarks were supported by further statements from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Abdulla Shahid. According to Honourable Abdulla Shahid, “Responding to COVID-19 has been tough, but we have come back stronger as a destination, with the Maldives being a safe destination for all tourists and hotel employees.”
Minister of Health, Honourable Abdulla Ameen noted a sense of relief and excitement as the country welcomes back foreign travellers. He also gave the reassurance that proper health and safety measures have been put in place around the country to ensure an enjoyable holiday for visitors.
This week marked the arrival of the Maldives’ first foreign visitors since the borders closed on the 27th March 2020. Hailing from various countries, the 107 travellers arrived in Malé via Qatar Airways, which was the first commercial airplane to land in the atolls since its closure.
The event and the campaign are amongst the first initiatives to promote the destination world-wide since the global pandemic first emerged. Adapting to the “new normal” and acting under strict health and safety precautions, MMPRC has a variety of activities planned for the year to support President Solih’s newly announced target of 850, 000 visitors by the end of 2020.
To watch the new “Rediscover Maldives…the sunny side of life” campaign video, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYKcj_5vECM