The new event will be hosted under the patronage of Moosa Zameer, minister of tourism, Maldives

Bench Events has announced the launch of the inaugural Maldives Hotel & Tourism Investment Briefing, to be held on November 30th in Malé.

The new event will following directly on from the Asia Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference, which is taking place in Colombo, Sri Lanka from November 28th-29th.

AHTIC is a top-level gathering of international investors, business leaders, government ministers and officials and it is anticipated that investors and delegates will travel from Colombo to Malé for a one-day briefing with project showcases and a networking reception.

The latter event will be followed by a day of FAM trips to various islands around the region to show potential investors and partners the projects available for collaborations.

These will include a range of both public and private investment opportunities.

In 2016 the Maldives hospitality and tourism industry recorded an annual average tourist arrival growth rate of 4.2 per cent.

According to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, the global annual average tourist arrival growth rate for the year was 3.9 per cent year-on-year, which is slightly lower than the rate for Maldives.

Further illustrating the recent success of the destination, World Travel Awards recently confirmed it would host the Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2017 at Sun Aqua Vilu Reef, South Nilandhe Atoll, on July 8th.

Maldives itself is also recognised as the World’s Leading Beach Destination and World’s Leading Dive Destination by the World Travel Awards.

To cater for this increase in demand the country continues to invest in the supporting infrastructure and connectivity.

The main airport is currently under expansion and is expected to be completed by 2018.
Several new airlines have recently commenced flights to the Maldives including Saudi Airlines.

The Maldives is an attractive destination for the discerning investor and one of South Asia’s most attractive centres for foreign direct investment.

Situated in the heart of the Indian Ocean, at the strategic cross roads of the east and the west, the Maldives benefits from a stable and transparent legal system, relative political stability and stable economic growth.

With a rate of growth that has averaged 7.5 per cent over the past 15 years, the country continues to develop at a steady pace and remains economically resilient.

The briefing is organised by Bench Events, in partnership with Luxury Collections and will be hosted by the ministry of tourism, under the patronage Moosa Zameer, tourism minister of the Maldives.

Luxury Collections chief executive and founder, Adeel Ahmed, said: “We are thrilled to announce the Maldives Tourism and Hotel Investment Briefing.

“This event will attract some of the world’s premier investors and is co-directed by a leading international consultant who has organised multiple similar events around the globe.

“This event has incredible potential for tourism investment, and the Maldives is bursting with opportunities, with a tourism-based economy and a strong brand identity which has stood the test of time.”