Maldives celebrates first tourist of 2024, Benjamin Moore

Monday, January 1, 2024

In 2024, Benjamin Duncan Moore was greeted as the Maldives‘ first visitor, with a grand welcome at Velena Airport, marking a special celebration.

In 2024, Benjamin Duncan Moore was warmly welcomed as the first visitor of the year to the Maldives. A special event was organized by the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/ Visit Maldives) at Velena International Airport to commemorate this significant event. Hailing from Britain, Benjamin arrived on flight EY278 from Abu Dhabi, embarking on his inaugural journey to the Maldives for a relaxing stay at Villa Nautica.

At the airport, a welcoming committee consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, MMPRC, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Maldives Immigration, Dhivehi Raajjeyge Gulhun Public Limited (Dhiraagu), and Crossroads Maldives greeted him. The Tourism Minister, Honourable Ibrahim Faisal, Deputy Managing Director of MMPRC, Mr. Mohamed Bassam Adam, Deputy Chief Officer of AOCC & Customer Relations at MACL, Mr. Ibrahim Hareef, Deputy Head of Airport Division and Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, Mr. Ali Sunan, Director Brand and Marketing Communications at Dhiraagu, Mr. Mohamed Mirshan Hassan, and the General Manager of Crossroads Maldives, Mr. Alexander Traeger, were all present to celebrate this special occasion.

Benjamin was presented with a complimentary vacation courtesy of Crossroads Maldives, including stays at SAii Lagoon Maldives and the Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. He also received various gifts from the Ministry of Tourism, MMPRC, MACL, Maldives Immigration, and Dhiraagu.

In the previous year, MMPRC successfully executed 402 marketing initiatives, including exhibitions, roadshows, familiarization tours, marketing campaigns, webinars, and interviews, reaching an astounding 46.8 billion people. Notably, the Maldives was awarded the title of ‘World’s Leading Destination’ by the World Travel Awards (WTA) for the fourth consecutive year. MMPRC was also recognized as the World’s Leading Tourist Board for the second year running. Additionally, the Maldives was honored with the Global Tourism Resilience Award for its strategic capacity to recover and flourish following disruptions. Throughout the year, the Maldives garnered numerous awards in the global tourism sector, including accolades for resorts, properties, tour operators, and travel agencies.

Looking ahead to 2024, the Maldives tourism sector is set to advance with innovative, research-based marketing strategies. Emphasizing data-driven insights, the MMPRC plans to enhance the promotion of the Maldives as a premier holiday destination. Collaborations with industry stakeholders, NGOs, local councils, and associations are aimed at nurturing a shared vision for sustainable tourism growth. Additionally, there will be a focus on bolstering social media presence and conducting more targeted marketing campaigns.

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