Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/ Visit Maldives) partnered with 1000UT to host a dedicated destination B2B networking event in Budapest, Hungary.
The event, was held at the UP Hotel Budapest on September 26. Other than MMPRC, this event was participated in by six representatives from three companies in the Maldivian tourism sector - Robinson Maldives, Kandima Maldives, and Intour Maldives.
According to MMPRC, the event was aimed at Maldives' brand presence in the central and eastern European markets, and connecting with potential agents and buyers in the region.
Partnering with 1000UT, one of Hungary's largest tour operators since 2001, Visit Maldives brought together 40 Hungarian travel agents to explore the Maldives as a premier destination.
The event featured presentations from Visit Maldives’ destination partners, providing Hungarian travel agents with valuable insights about the Maldives tourism industry, allowing them to experience the destination firsthand and gain a deeper understanding of our diverse offerings, along with the specific products and services of the participating properties.
"Together with 1000UT, we were delighted to host this B2B event in Hungary," said Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and MD of MMPRC.
"The Maldives had seen a steady increase in arrivals from Eastern Europe, and this event highlighted our commitment to further strengthening our relationship with the Hungarian travel trade."
Attendees had ample time to network and discuss business opportunities with Maldives tourism partners during the one-day event, which prominently highlighted Maldives’ unique experiences and offerings.
The event also explored connectivity, with Qatar Airways and Fly Dubai presenting their connectivity options from Budapest to the Maldives.
The event also included a dedicated mini-workshop that delved into the specific aspects of Robinson Maldives, Kandima Maldives, and Intour Maldives.
The emerging eastern European market holds great potential for the Maldives tourism industry. Maldives recorded 12,500 tourist arrivals from Hungary as of August 31.
Visit Maldives said that it seeks to reinforce the Maldives' top-of-mind position in the market, establish strong connections with potential agents, and drive increased arrivals from Hungary to the Maldives across various segments.
With exciting upcoming marketing activities such as the CEE Roadshow 2024 and the CEE Discover Maldives Webinar Series, the tourism promotion board aims to contribute to the Maldives' growing popularity among travelers from the central and eastern European regions.