The Maldives Association for Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has welcomed a government pledge to increase the tourism advertising budget from US$1.5 million to US$7 million next year.
MATATO Secretary-General Mohamed Maleeh Jamal told Haveeru that the association had assurances from President Mohamed Nasheed of the increase during recent consultations with the government.
Maleeh explained that increased marketing activities and advertising would maintain the Maldives as an up-market tourist destination in the face of growing competition and help local travel agencies secure more bookings.
The advertising budget was reduced from US$7 million to US$1.5 million in 2009 as part of austerity measures in response to the severe impact of the global economic recession on the Maldivian economy, which saw tourist arrivals plummet 10 percent in the first year of the new administration.
