Maldives Participates at Riyadh Travel Fair 2016

Members of the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) have taken part in the the 8th Riyadh Travel Fair in the Saudi Arabian capital.
Maldivian companies hosting exhibitions at the event included Adaaran Resorts, Pearl Travel Services, Trav Maldives, Sun Travel and Tours, Travelers Street, and Voyages Maldives.
They were joined by 250 other exhibitors, representing more than 55 countries. The fair – which brings together leading tourism companies from across the GCC – attracted around 20,000 visitors this year.
The four day event offers participants and visitors excellent networking opportunities, insightful seminar sessions, and ministerial discussions, as well as the chance to celebrate 12 months of the tourism industry’s achievements.
“Last year the Riyadh Travel Fair featured 219 exhibitors with visitor attendance at 17,573,”  said Bander’ Al Gryni, general manager ASAS Exhibitions – the organiser of the fair. “That was an increase of 15 percent compared to the 2014 edition.”
MATATO, which represents more than 50 travel agents and tour operators in the Maldives, has noted that the Middle East’s outbound travel market is one of the fastest growing in the world. Indeed, visitors to the Indian Ocean nation from the region have nearly tripled over the past five years.
Following the introduction of Mega Maldives flights between Malé and Riyadh in 2014, Saudi Arabian Airlines began flying directly to the Maldives late last month.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is known to be a regular visitor to Maldivian resorts, with ties between the two nations growing rapidly in recent times. Earlier this year it was announced that the kingdom would donate a six-story mosque – named after King Salman – to be built in Malé.