A high level delegation headed by Tourism Minister Dr. Ahmed Sawadh Ali will participate in the ongoing Berlin Fair, Maldives Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) has revealed. Berlin Fair commenced today and is expected to come to close on the 15 March.

MTPB also revealed that in addition to Dr, Sawad, the delegation will consists of senior government officials and key stake holders of the industry. Maldives contingent, participating in the Berlin Fair which includes participants from some 180 countries, includes 176 participants from 76 parties. According to Deputy Director of MTPB Mohamed Adam this includes officials from various tourists’ resorts and hotels, tour operators and airlines serving the tourism trade.

The global economic down turn has drastically affected the Maldives tourism industry causing a drastic reduction in number of arrivals. In January alone the number of arrivals saw a 4.8 percent reduction as compared to January last year. The number of German tourists’ arrivals came down as much as 10.6 percent.

Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) has forecasted 20 percent decline in tourist arrivals this year. The government in order to offset anticipated decline has launched a major program to woo more tourist arrivals. In this President Nasheed during his recent visit to Italy has met with several key Italian tour operators in an attempt to woo more Italian tourists to Maldives. Some 5000 more Italians ar4e expected this year as a direct result of President Nasheed’s initiatives.