Maldives to be Featured at the Middle East Outbound Travel Roadshow


Maldives
PUBLISHED December 19, 2018

Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) have announced that the association will be exploring the Middle East travel Market in four major Arab cities, with the Outbound Travel Roadshow (OTR) 2019.

The roadshow which is organised in partnership with Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibition is scheduled to take place on 10th to 13th February 2019.

OTRs offers networking opportunity in a professionally organised buyer-seller meet with thousands of buyers participating in the event. OTR Middle East will explore for major markets in the region, Dubai, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait bringing together the most prominent buyers in those market to an event of trade and networking backed by the experience and resources of Sphere Travelmedia.

The Middle East is one of the fastest growing travel markets in the world. A new report from the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) shows that outbound tourism from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)  which comprises of six countries of the Arabian Peninsula has grown strongly in recent years, with international tourism expenditure surpassing USD 60 billion in 2017. The report also finds that per-capita international tourism spending from the GCC was 6.5 times higher than the global average last year.

MATATOs destination marketing strategy concentrates on the emerging new markets that hold the potential for the destination. According to the Ministry of Tourism, the Middle East at the third position, is among one of the fastest growing tourist generating regions to the Maldives, having an annual average growth rate of 29.6%. 

Over the last five year period, the market share of the region doubled, from an insignificant 2.3% in 2012 to 4% at the end of 2016. In 2016, the region recorded a 22.3% increase compared with 2015. MATATO intends to build upon this momentum of growth, by providing more opportunities for the destination to penetrate into the potential of Middles East market.

This is the second consecutive year that MATATO is taking part in OTR Middles. In 2018, 8 companies from the Maldives, including resorts and travel agents took part in this roadshow under the destination banner the Maldives.

MATATO is a non-profit membership organisation exclusive to Maldivian travel enterprises that has a diverse membership representing Tourist Resorts, Hotels Brands, Guest Houses, Airlines and other travel service providers as associate members.

MATATO owns two travel publication, MALDIVES FINDER and ATOLL GUIDE. MATATO is also the organisers of Maldives Travel Awards, the highest recognition in Maldives Travel Industry, established in 2011. MATATO has hosted three editions of Maldives Travel Awards along with Maldives Travel Conference in 2017.

MATATO is also a regular exhibitor at International Travel Fairs and Exhibitions in addition to hosting roadshows and creating business networks for destination marketing.
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