With the aim of maintaining the destination presence in Russia, together with 20 industry partners, Visit Maldives has started a roadshow in Russia which will take place from 19th to 26th March 2021 in Moscow, Kazan, Yekaterinburg & Saint Petersburg. The roadshow is taking place right after MITT 2021, which concluded on 18th March 2021.
During such a crucial time, it is important to maintain the destination presence through such events and engage the travel trade of the market. In this regard, 12 resorts, 2 guesthouses, 6 travel agents with over 33 participants joined Visit Maldives to showcase their properties and highlight the experiences available on each of the respective properties. Additionally, destination awareness will be given throughout the roadshow to portray the unique geography of the Maldivian islands, and the stringent health and safety measures in place to ensure that the country remains a safe haven for tourists during this pandemic.
In all four roadshow events, attendees have the opportunity to take part in a raffle and win a free vacation in Maldives. Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Adaaran Resorts and Sun Island Resort will sponsor the raffles held at the Moscow roadshow. Attendees who win the raffle at Kazan will win a trip sponsored by Paradise Island Resort. Furthermore, Taj Coral Reef Resort and Spa along with Sun Island will sponsor the raffle held in Saint Petersburg. Moreover, the raffle held during Yekaterinburg is sponsored by Royal Island Resort.
Currently, the Russian market is one of the top performing markets according to the most recent statistics by the Ministry of tourism, and demonstrates potential for further growth. 40,698 tourists have arrived from the Russian region so far in 2021, with a total of 4 connecting flights operating between Russia and Maldives with direct connections from Aeroflot.
Maldives reopened its borders for tourists of all nationalities on 15th July 2020, with rigorous procedures in place to ensure the safety of tourists and tourism workers. Tourists are required to fill an online health declaration form within 24 hours prior to their departure, as well as have a negative PCR test result, conducted 96 hours prior to their departure.
On 1st February 2021, Maldives initiated the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, and the government aims to provide free COVID-19 vaccine to all citizens and residents of Maldives, in the upcoming months. In this regard, the Ministry of Tourism also launched an initiative to vaccinate people in the tourism sector to develop an even safer scenario for the industry. The initiation of the vaccination drive is bound to offer hope to the local population, as well as ensure the safety of tourists. This conveys the message that Maldives is a low-risk destination for travelers and will hopefully generate a surge in tourist arrivals.
