On 26th September 2024, in Budapest, Hungary, the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/Visit Maldives) and 1000UT co-hosted a successful Destination B2B networking event. Six representatives from three Maldives-based tourist companies, Robinson Maldives, Kandima Maldives, and Intour Maldives, participated in the event.
The purpose of the event was to build relationships with possible agents and purchasers in the region as well as to strengthen the Maldives’ brand recognition in the markets of Central and Eastern Europe. In order to promote the Maldives as a top holiday destination, MMPRC/Visit Maldives gathered 40 Hungarian travel agencies in collaboration with 1000UT, one of the biggest tour operators in Hungary since 2001. The event, which took place at the UP Hotel Budapest, featured presentations from a number of destination partners and gave Hungarian travel agents insightful knowledge on the Maldives tourist sector. The agents were able to learn more about the destination and the various options, as well as the particular goods and services provided by the participating establishments, thanks to these presentations.
Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO & Managing Director of MMPRC, had this to say, “Together with 1000UT, MMPRC was delighted to host this B2B event in Hungary. The Maldives has seen a steady increase in arrivals from Eastern Europe, and this event highlighted MMPRC’s commitment to further strengthening its relationship with the Hungarian travel trade.”
Throughout the course of this one-day event, which clearly emphasized the distinctive experiences and services of the Maldives, attendees had plenty of opportunity to network and explore business potential with Maldives tourism partners. Options for connectivity were also investigated; Fly Dubai and Qatar Airways offered their flights from Budapest to the Maldives. There was also a special mini-workshop that covered the details of the Robinson Maldives, Kandima Maldives, and Intour Maldives.
The tourist sector in the Maldives is thought to have a great deal of promise in the growing Eastern European market. There were 12,500 documented tourist arrivals from Hungary as of August 31st, 2024. MMPRC seeks to strengthen the Maldives’ leading position in this market, build trusting relationships with possible agents, and promote more arrivals from Hungary to the Maldives in a range of traveler categories. MMPRC hopes to further contribute to the growing popularity of the Maldives among travelers from Central and Eastern Europe with planned marketing initiatives like the CEE Roadshow 2024 and the CEE Discover Maldives Webinar Series.
