I don’t know how to start this post as I normally try to avoid politics when talking about business and my profession, but this may sound bit different. Moving on, I wanted to write this piece as I spend most of my time thinking about Maldives Tourism and its direction as one of the key sectors in our Economy. Like all of you, I too believe that
Earlier this week, I had an opportunity to meet with a group of Inbound Tour Operators and Travel Agents who had gathered to discuss the possibilities of working together under a better organized framework. The group exchanged thoughts and ideas on the roles and effectiveness of various industry related organizations and associations registered in the
Following the meeting, I thought of sharing my idea on the role and effectiveness of Maldives Tourism Promotion Board. “MTPB was founded in 1998 and is responsible for promoting the tourism industry of the
If I am not mistaken MTPB has around 30 staffs and spends around MRf 107 Million annually in the name of exercising above activities. The biggest part of the huge budget comes from the “Government” and approximately MRf 800,000 supposedly comes from Industry, in the form of membership or annual fees. As tourism enthusiasts or specialists I will leave it up to you to justify the cost involved and the return we get out of it.
Now, you may think where I am going with this post as the heading has no relevance to the content. So let me get on track and share what went through my mind this morning. Given the importance of tourism and its development to the
In saying that, I am not suggesting to completely stopping Tourism Promotion, but I am thinking more than just promoting tourism. I am thinking of Nation Branding. I am thinking of branding the
To do that, the Government could dissolve MTPB and create Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
Totally your idea is not bad. But I feel it’s better to keep MTPB as “MTPB” and strengthen its function. Do you know who is in charge of MTPB now?
MTPB is under Tourism Ministry and until recently Aisthu Ali (Vaarey villaa) was in charge, since she took over when Mausoom left for higher ranks. I think CS Commission will soon announce for application for the post of Director General MTPB. Still I feel it will be more cost effective to change it from a board to a department and combine other functions.
I think over all your idea is good , can be be more effective as you have suggested ,
Dear Mifthah, thank you for contributing. The whole idea of Tourism in the Maldives is based on a simple concept of island resorts and then there is everything else in the country which is done complementary to tourism. I think the Marketing campaign can be tourism centered but it is time for us to go for a broad Nation Marketing Campaign!
sounds all great and your concern thought seems to be very genuine indeed to the subject. i dont know much about what you guys do really think about the damn MTPB. But as far as i concerned it as the major and official entity to boom our back born, it shall and could play much more vital role than what they do now. its really high time reform and resolve things which hold out pulse and bread and butter. in the meantime, i highly criticized the big chaps of the industry as they all do think to swell their pocket in no time. no matter how much would be suffered the economy nor the staff as a whole. why not you raise as issue to expel the damn foreign staffs with huge payroll to save foreign currency from our small and thin economy. its a big shame that the industry and the govt so far fails to establish a center or whatever to build human capacity among the Maldives. i hope you would write the issue next time. best regards. fikury