The President’s Office has reported that 67,478 tourists arrived in the Maldives during January 2010, making it country’s strongest January in five years.
Moosa Zameer, head of planning and statistics at the ministry of tourism, observed it was “the best [January] we have ever had.”
But Sim Mohamed from the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) was less optimistic about the numbers, saying they are “a bit misleading” and “must be studied carefully”.
Although the number of arrivals under tourists visas may have risen, Sim said many of these tourists are only ‘surface arrivals’ – such as passengers on a cruise ship who arrive for a day or two, and then leave.
Several such regular services have started bringing tourists from India and Sri Lanka, he noted.
According to Sim, the final arrival figures for tourists could be reduced by 30-40 per cent before they can accurately show the number of tourists who are staying for significant amounts of time – and spending money in the country.
Under normal circumstances, most tourists coming to the Maldives are at “the high end of the market – those who have the disposable income to go wherever they want to go,” he says.
But with the recent economic crisis, many resorts and airlines have reduced their rates significantly, he explained, with some resorts cutting their rates up to 30-50 percent. More airlines opening their routes to the Maldives also means more competitive air fares.
Because resorts are operating at lower rates, “there isn’t a significant rise in financial activity in Malé or even in other islands,” Sim said, but “it’s still a win for the government since they get bed rent.”
Zameer believes that the rise in tourist arrivals is not only accredited to cheaper rates at resorts, but to all the “work in promotions carried out after the [economic] crisis at the end of 2008.” He believes both the private sector and the ministry have put a lot of work into promoting the Maldives as a tourist destination, even for those who are more budget conscious.
Traditionally, the key markets for tourism in Maldives have been the UK, Italy, Germany, France, Russia, China and Switzerland, according to MATI. But this trend has already seen a change this year.
Zameer says there has been a “shift in the market,” as European seasonal tourist numbers are dropping and the Chinese and Indian markets are emerging. Kuwaitis have also helped the market “enormously,” he says.
Zameer believes people are starting to realise this is the right time to travel, and they can “go to the destination they have been waiting to go to.”
Sim agrees “there has been a big rise in tourists coming from India. There is also a very sharp rise in Chinese arrivals after Chinese New Year, and there will be another one towards Easter, mostly Italians.”
He added that MATI is “feeling good vibes” from the market, especially from Germany and the UK.
“We might not see a significant recovery in 2010, but down the line, in 2012, we might see a further rise in the tourism industry.”
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Who is this Sim ?
The one who was sleeping on the SHOULDER"S of leading hoteliers in Maldives, who always is ready to say "YES" to them and forget the rest? He was there in MATI for so many years without taking a good course for the betterment of the industry. He just listen to his BOSS'ES, and not to most valuable essets of the industry, the employees of the tourism industry. No employment benefits, no pension scheme, no provident fund was created by them. But still claiming to be leading the industry. Even they went against the services tax law passed by the Citizen's Chamber, while not assisting the industry employees to get there sue service charges by the resort owners.
So I will never listen to what he says, as it will be always infavour of the hotel owners. His thoughts, comments and vision will always be focussed on the wealth he used to get from the hoteliers of Maldives. I consider him not relaible to comment on industry issues. God bless our nation.