Maldives, an archipelago of 1190 islands with a unique geography, is eyeing direct air connectivity with Delhi in order to boost tourist arrival into the country. The island nation is expected to start with a charter service from Maldives Male airport to Delhi in the next couple of months. If the response garnered is positive, Maldives will replace the charter service with direct scheduled services in due course. This information was revealed by Deputy Tourism Minister of Maldives Hussain Lirar at the presentation made recently in Delhi on the sidelines of SATTE 2014.
Maldives aims to boost its share of tourism from the world’s fastest growing tourism source market, which is currently at a paltry 3 per cent of its total international visits. This is despite the fact that Maldives is located in close proximity to India. Maldives received 33,000 Indian visitors in 2013. The destination registered a record year receiving 1.1 million international tourists in 2013. China is Maldives’ single largest source market, whereas European tourists form a bulk of the international tourist arrivals. India currently ranks as the ninth largest source market.
Maldives is currently only connected with Kerala, operating between Male and the state capital Trivandrum. With tourism as the backbone of its economy, Maldives hopes to diversify its tourism products and offerings all across the archipelago, which is hitherto largely concentrated in and around Male. Lirar further informed that the country is moving full swing to develop new tourism infrastructure in order to diversify its offering to international tourists and also create opportunities in the North and South of the country.
Maldives has identified about ten islands where it wants to create new lodging facilities. The tendering process for the same will begin soon, an area of interest, he opined, for potential Indian investors. He informed that the airports are already in place in these areas to support other tourism infrastructure developments and investments.
The 4th Tourism Master Plan of Maldives encourages regional development of tourism. Some of the new airports in the country will act as hubs of regional development, he said, while inviting Indian investors to look at the opportunities.
Also speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner of Maldives to India, Mohamed Naseer informed that the Maldives will organise two tourism road shows in India this year, as well as some cultural events. Aimed at promoting the romantic side of Maldives in order to attract honeymooners, Lirar also highlighted Maldives as a unique destination with a one island one resort concept, therefore offering total privacy.
The Island nation is also a sought after destination with for diving enthusiasts. The destinations not only offer plethora of water base activities but also has some very unique tourism attractions such as an underwater spa and an underwater club.
