International Maldives Travel Market 2020 Fuses Travel and Technology

International Maldives Travel Market (IMTM) is a business-to-business (B2B) international travel and trade fair which has been held annually since inauguration in 2018. Surprisingly, the fair is scheduled to take place this year too, but wait for the catch! It will be taking place completely virtually; successfully breaking all stigma surrounding health safety concerns due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The exciting news was disclosed by the proud host of the event, IMTM Private Limited, on the occasion of World Tourism Day this year.

IMTM 2020 snatched the title of being the first online travel and trade fair hosted in Maldives. It will be held under the theme ‘Reconnect, Revive and Grow’. The fair provides a platform for local resorts, hotels, guesthouses, liveaboards, dive centers, local tour operators and travel agents to showcase themselves for the international market to establish meaningful business alliance for the recovery of their businesses impacted by the economic downturn as a result of the pandemic. The fair will be held on 28^th and 29^th of October. The foundational aim of IMTM Private limited is to gradually reopen the travel, tourism and hospitality sector to new markets.

A press release from IMTM Private limited yesterday confirmed that the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has endorsed the event as a supporting partner to achieve the mutual goal of restoring the industry to a state of reliance and sustainability to retrain control on strains subjected on the industry by the pandemic. UNWTO is the United Nations body entrusted with promotion of responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism.

Tourism is the backbone of Maldivian economy. We have come to become the one of the only two destinations in the world to have completely lifted all travel restrictions as of September. The country expects to welcome more than 100,000 tourists within the remaining period of the year.