Maldives Marketing and Public Relation Corporation (MMPRC) together with Maldives Tourism Industry have participated in ITB 2012 fair, the world’s largest trade show for the travel industry, held in Berlin, Germany from 7th -11th March 2012.

ITB Berlin is the leading trade show for the worldwide travel industry, with over 110,000 trade visitors, of whom more than 30% come from abroad. It stages one of the world’s largest and most important specialist conventions with over 14,000 participants.

Overall, Maldives representation at ITB fair this year was an achievement. Maldives representation at the ITB fair has always been prominent for the tourism industry, it always remains an ideal platform and opportunity for exhibiters to get their message out to both trade and visitors and general public.  It is the meeting point for tourism professionals, in which they can establish lines of action, strategies and business alliances to energize and consolidate the tourism business, innovating to answer the changing demands of the market.

This year from the tourism industry in total more than 200 representatives from 64 companies and 5 officials from the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation represented the Maldives delegation at the ITB fair. Honorable Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Adeeb has also participated with the Maldives delegation.

The newly designed stand of the Maldives (405 sq meters) was recognized as one of the best stands this year in ITB.  MMPRC also hosted a Maldives Evening at ITB on the first day of the show on 7th of March, for the travel trade and press creating a successful marketing platform. Maldives delegation also includes a music band, boduberu group & dance group of six. The Cultural dances by Goma, Boduberu by harubee and shambe group performed the traditional, cultural & modern day music in & around the country showcasing some true colors of Maldives. The performances by the music groups were well received by the visitors on the last two days of the fair opened for public. 

Hon. Ahmed Adeeb has highlighted the importance of having presence in the world’s largest travel show and assures there would be positive growth and new developments to the tourism of Maldives in near future. Furthermore the Minister himself and the whole industry who participated assured that Maldives and its hospitality remain perfectly safe for visitors to enjoy their holiday. Minister Adeeb has conducted several meetings with travel trade media and other prominent members including European Parliament President Martin Schulz and German Parliament Member Michael Jorge during the trip.

Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation & along with other MATATO members have also held press conferences on 8th March with a number of tour operators & media to underline current status of the tourism stability in Maldives. In addition to this conference, Hon. Ahmed Adeeb and MMPRC officials have conducted a press conference in London on the 12th of March, with several media and journalists to assure the safety & stability of tourism industry.

In 2011, Maldives recorded a total of 931,333 arrivals. Out of which a total of 90,517 arrivals were German nationalities which is 17.4% growth compared to 2010.

This year, from January till February 19th, Maldives received a total of 13,206 German arrivals. Germany contributes 8.6% of the total market share of the Maldives tourism.