Deputy Secretary General of Maldives Association for Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), Asra Naseem has stated the association has broadened its scope and have made it their main focus to promote the country in untapped markets and conduct training programmes within the tourism sector.
Speaking on Talk Maldives TV programme aired on PSM News, regarding the work done by Maldives Association for Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), the Deputy Secretary General of the association, Asra Naseem said that since its humble beginning MATATO has expanded into an association which not only assists travel agents and tour operators but has increased its scope to include destination marketing and publications, travel fairs and travel related training programmes and seminars.
"We never started with the ambition of organization travel fairs, exhibitions and road shows and seminars as we do now, but as I mentioned earlier, we saw the need that we have to get engaged in these kind of activities. And this was actually driven by the encouragement given by our members and of course our tourism industry. That's how we started into destination marketing. Today MATATO takes part in more travel fair and trade shows abroad, actually more than some of the small countries tourism promotion boards. So we are very proud about it. Our efforts and work have been appreciated and recognized by PATA and UNWTO, which we believe is a huge accomplishment as an NGO,” Asra told the programme.
Speaking about MATATO Maldives Travel Award, Asra noted that since its inception they have been working to market and promote the awards in the international market. Noting that the award by MATATO is the recognition award conferred locally, Asra said that this year they have already held one of the two new editions of the travel awards.
In this regard, Asra noted that the Travel Awards people's edition was held in Hudhuranfushi Resort in July, while the Guest House Edition and Gala night of the awards will be held at the end of the year. She said that MATATO's main focus right now is to hold destination marketing in different platforms, especially untapped markets while they also want to continue holding seminar and trainings to build human capacity in the industry.
"We look into participating in untapped markets. We like taking risks, and we go into new markets, and we explore them. We don't always stick to the traditional markets that Maldives have been following, we don't do that. For the past one year in the Indian market itself we have done three travel fairs. And also we are focusing a lot on organizing training programs related to tourism industry, human capacity building programs, different kinds of seminars. We are also working very hard on destination publications that we do annually,” she said.
Speaking about the setbacks faced by the association, Asra said that lack of finances is a major hindrance for MATATO as an association, especially since they conduct so many programmes in a broad-based spectrum of the tourism sector.
Speaking about the challenges facing the Maldives as a destination, she noted that the limitation of destination market is one of the main issues facing the expansion of the industry. She said in order to address this Maldives should focus on should market and showcase Maldives as a destination more aggressively.