The Maldives welcomed the first direct flight from Hong Kong since 2020. The tourists were greeted with the traditional BoduBeru, a vibrant cultural performance, and presented with a special gift pack, including flowers.
Celebrating a spectacular night as @hkairlines resumes its flights to Maldives! 🌙✈️
We welcomed this special flight with festive boduberu! Here’s to hosting more travelers from Hong Kong for a sun-soaked adventure! ☀️#VIA #VelanaAirport #HKGtoMLE pic.twitter.com/JkUFKfO0eR— Velana Airport (@VelanaAirport) January 19, 2024-Advertisement-
This celebration marks the return of tourists from Hong Kong Airlines to the Maldives, a significant event since the onset of the global pandemic. Dignitaries attended the event included, Ambassador from the People’s Republic of China to the Maldives, H.E Ambassador Ms Wang Lixin, representatives from The Ministry of Tourism, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Maldives Immigration, Maldives Customs Service, along with government-related enterprises & tourism associations in the Maldives.
China has traditionally been an important market for the Maldives tourism industry. Direct flights from China to the Maldives resumed after a three-year break caused by border closures due to the global COVID-19 epidemic. Prior to 2020, the Chinese market dominated the Maldives’ arrival rankings. In the previous year, the Maldives welcomed approximately 187,118 tourists from China, solidifying its status as one of the Maldives’ top three source markets. Since the reopening of borders, there has been a continuous increase in arrivals.
