What comes to your mind when you think of Maldives? I asked this question from some of my foreign friends via chat:

Szilvia in Poland
Me: Hi
Szilvia: hello president 
Me: quick question…what comes to your mind when think of Maldives?
Szilvia: lots of sun, scuba diving, friendly people..
Szilvia: need more?
Me: nop, I think this is enough 

Sarah in UK
Me: hey Maldives calling…
Sarah: hello dear, long time no speak
Sarah: what are you up to these days? staying out of trouble? :p
Me: hellow… i’m staying out of trouble – behaving like the good boy you know!!
Me: what’s with you? heard Soph you were planning a bash in Turkey?
Sarah: yehhh…that was one hell of a trip…
Sarah: all five of us enjoying the view of low-hipped poolside waitstaff
Me: i can imagine… *naughty thoughts* 
Me: So tell me something now… what comes to your mind when think of Maldives?
Sarah: place to make babies.. haha

Thomas in Spain
Tommy: ola, online on Sunday?? No party today?
Me: hehe, always party here…how is my king Csezar?
Tommy: he is growing up. We are planning to visit Maldives next Summer
Me: super, that’ll be great…but next summer is still far..
Tommy: yes. But we need to more time
Me: cool… now tell me what comes to your mind when think of Maldives?
Tommy: endless blue ocean, tiny little fish, plenty of sun and nice beach of course
Me: good, but I was hoping for something more *wink*

Nathalie in France
Nat: Nabs
Me: Hey, what’s up…all good?
Me: life is beautiful here 
Nat: same here
Nat: what’s with you still online…it’s Sunday go swim or do something :p
Me: hehe..doing some reading.. too lazy to swim 
Me: hey can I ask you something? What comes to your mind when you think Maldives?  
Nat: Sun Sea Sex …haha
Me: you funny girl, seriously is that what’s goes in your mind all the time?
Nat: elah, serious.. I think Maldives is perfect to get Sun, Sea and Sex
Me: nice one 

Peter in Fiji
Me: hello Peter boy… how is Fiji treating you?
Peter: wait, on a call..
Peter: back, what’s going in your head today? Fiji is nice, and this property is new so all going well
Me: good for you ! i’m glad finally you are settling well
Peter: yeah, it’s great, we are thinking of expansion soon *smile*
Me: nice…so tell me something now
Me: what comes to your Mind when you think of Maldives?
Peter: match, mate, Maldives *evil grin*
Me: haha, i can understand.. with your history what can I expect *smile*

Charged with their own experiences, it appears that all my friends relate the Maldives with sun, sand, sea and some sort of fun escapade. They were talking through their experience and with great passion. They are suggesting that Maldives is not simply a tourist  destination but an experience.

I think our marketers need to learn from real time stories like these and try to increase the passion for the experience we try to sell every day.