As promised earlier I am now writing some comments on the discussion points given at MTPB Marketing Workshop help last week.

6. What are the new markets the private sector needs to tap and how MTPB could assist improve Maldives presence in the emerging markets?

My answer to this question is simple – as long as the client likes our product and they are ready to pay our prices, we should consider them as markets to concentrate.

I think in this point “Private Sector” is referred to as resorts, cruise boats or guests houses. These products or business entities will tap different markets depending on their product and the type of clientele they want to attract. This will be a different strategy and will differ from one product to the other depending on the individuality of the product and the services they offer etc, etc.

As a destination management body I believe MTPB should research and see the potential of various markets and strategically manage to create present and future demand from those markets. MTPB should be able to provide the industry executives with reports, quarterly if not annually, on travel trends, emerging markets and feeder markets. MTPB should act like experts who are giving us guidance and support to tap into certain markets or areas. Penetrating to a new market can be challenging depending on the proximity, market value and competition among many other factors.

Now, I would like to share with you something I read (prior to the whokshop) on emerging markets presented by UNWTO – to read the full report click the link World Tourism Organization

I am sure a lot of you will have excess to all these information and I must tell that all of you who attended the workshop were very updated with these information. But I was really hoping that Maldives Tourism Promotion Board will be able to at least give us some guidelines or information to help brainstorm and make the workshop more productive. MTPB could have printed this three page report by UNWTO and passed to all the group tables for reference during discussions. Just a thought from me….i hope you agree with me…