- Target arrivals at 1.4 million
- Arrivals at 800,000 by August end
- Tourism promotion efforts expanded
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) says the tourist arrivals will hit the one million figure tomorrow.
MMPRC says the one millionth visitor to the Maldives will be welcomed with a ceremony in Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA).
MMPRC has held many activities to welcome the 500,000th and 750,000th visitor to the Maldives.
The 500,000th visitor was a French national, Nicolas Lamprin with wife Celin and son Paul. The family was given a free stay in Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru. The 750,000th visitor was China's Wang Shuai and family who were awarded a week's stay in Meeru Island Resort.
Tourism Ministry initially set a target of 1.5 million tourists for the year. However, dips in key markets resulted in Ministry revising the targets to 1.4 million. Tourism Minister Moosa Zameer attributed this change to the results of the anti-campaigns carried out by opposition figures and the situation in Middle East and France.
"Our main challenge this year is the effects of the anti-campaigns perpetrated by the opposition figures who claim terror threats and terror support in the Maldives. Our major markets like Germany and France are in shock due to the attacks, along with the issues in the Middle East, that's why we're unable to reach that target," Minister said.
Tourism Ministry statistics show that by end of August, 842,635 tourists had visited the Maldives. The traditional peak season for tourism is up ahead. Occupancy rates are expected to rise in the period and major airlines are now increasing the capacity to the Maldives.
