Recently inked China-Maldives free trade agreement seeks to provide opportunities for local travel agencies to establish offices at China for operations.
The documents reflecting FTA between the two nations cite Maldivian travel agents will be given the go-ahead to establish offices at three different cities of China and operate their business on site. This is expected allow direct marketing to China tourist markets and allow tourists to make direct bookings to Maldives without the need of a third party.
Maldives will receive the go ahead to establish businesses in Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin.
During the state visit to China by Maldivian president's couple, both leaders of the two nations had signed on the FTA which had cited to facilitate Maldivian travel agencies operating in outbound fashion.
This marks the first time China has allowed a foreign nation to establish their business outlets inland of the economic giant.
While the FTA is expected to act as a positive catalyst to boost Chinese market in Maldivian tourism, they are already considered as the biggest tourist contributor to Maldives. However over the past four years, the figures of tourist visits from the market had receded slowly.
