The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) together with 43 representatives from 25 companies from the tourism industry of Maldives are taking part at the International French travel Market (IFTM) Top Resa held in Paris, Franc. The Maldives delegation headed by the Acting Managing Director of MMPRC Haris Mohamed will be reaching out to the French market and showcasing the Maldives and its products on offer.
In 2008, IFTM Top Resa moved to Paris and became a multi-target show covering all grounds of travel: including business, leisure and events. Today, major players in the leisure travel, event management and business travel gather to share and learn through the impressive range of destinations present and discovering new products and exhibitors of the latest technological solutions sector.
IFTM Top Resa is aimed to help regain the market share of the French market to the Maldives which has been in downfall for the past few years. This year, the marketing plan for the French speaking market have been strategised to strengthen the destination's presence in the market and aggressively market Maldives through extensive public relation and marketing campaigns targeting the French travel trade and consumers.
The fair is being held from September 26 to 29. As one of the top generating markets as well as one of the important traditional markets to the Maldives, 2016 recorded a total of 40,487 tourist arrivals from France. By the end of July 2017, there were 26,149 tourist arrivals from France, which is an increase of 2.8% compared to the same period of 2016.
France accounted for 3.4% of the total market share in the period from January to July 2017.