The Maldives has participated in ITB Berlin 2023: the world's largest travel trade show.
The fair has not been held for the past three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some of the fair's meetings were held online last year. The purpose of the fair is to provide an opportunity for tourism professionals from different countries to meet and market their businesses. The fair is being held in Messe Berlin, Germany, and has been attended by more than 5,500 exhibitors from over 150 countries.
The Maldives has the largest share of the fair among South Asian countries. As such, a 450sqm, two-storey stand was designed to reflect the natural beauty of the Maldives. It is the 39th year that the Maldives is participating in the fair.
Speaking to PSM News, Managing Director of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) Thoyyib Mohamed said the fair will be attended by many industry stakeholders as well as resorts. He said that many meetings have been held in the time since the fair started. He said the fair also plays a major role in the efforts to rebuild the tourism sector after the pandemic. In addition, he said the efforts made to revive the sector after the pandemic has yielded good results. He also said that participation in this fair is an opportunity for the industry to meet and strengthen relationships with participants from different countries.
ITB Berlin 2023 will last for three days. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will visit the stand representing the Maldives during the second day of the fair.