Capital Travel Maldives shines at BTL Portugal after 15-year hiatus

Capital Travel Maldives has represented the Maldives at the ‘Better Tourism Lisbon Travel Market’ - BTL Portugal after a 15-year hiatus.

The largest edition of BTL kicked off in Lisbon, Portugal on March 12 with more than 1,500 exhibitors representing over 100 international destinations and featuring more than 600 events.

The 35th edition of BTL proceeded through March 16.

Participants at the event offered opportunities to explore new strategies and establish partnerships over the course of five days.

Taking to social media platform ‘X’, CEO of Capital Travel & Tours Private Limited, Yoosuf Riffath wrote that the exhibition was buzzing with excitement with the Maldives stand attracting large crowds. The Maldives remains in high demand for summer vacations and honeymoons.

Speaking to RaajjeMV, Riffath highlighted the growing number of investors in the Maldives, noting that investors are increasing day by day and that the government has been leasing out sandbanks, reefs, and other areas rather than addressing the core issue; insufficient promotion of the island paradise.

Stressing that resorts owners in particular are suffering greatly due to insufficient promotion, Riffath highlighted that such events are things the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation should be doing.

The Maldives is not being promoted enough, so the affect of this is that those who run resorts in the Maldives, in particular, are suffering greatly. These kinds of events are things that the Maldives’ promotion board should be doing. We have gone to Turkey on our own, we went there in February. Then again, Portugal. We’ll be heading to Russia next for an exhibition called MITT in Moscow.”

Yoosuf Riffath, CEO of Capital Travel Maldives.

Further, Riffath pointed out that Russia is one of the leading sources of tourists to the Maldives. However, Maldives lacks promotion in the Russian market and this will bring about a negative impact, especially during summer time.

He added that several travelers from Portugal generally travel during summer, and particularly enjoys spending summer holidays in the Maldives, predominantly honeymooners.

We last came here 15 years ago. I was here even then. Since then, the Maldives hasn't participated in such fairs. That's why this time we came from Capital Travel to promote the Maldives, to show people the big changes in the Maldives after a period of fifteen years. Many people came to our stand and showed great interest. So this is a big success.”

Yoosuf Riffath, CEO of Capital Travel Maldives.

Describing the Maldives’ participation in BTL Portugal to be a resounding success, Riffath highlighted that it was a very big investment from the company; booking a stand at the fair, paying for it and booking round-trip tickets for a team of three-four employees.

Stressing on the massive expense, Riffath expressed his desire for the Maldives marketing team to participate in all such fairs to represent the island nation. In addition to this, he noted that even though the Maldives presently participates in several fairs, they do not have the adequate promotional materials with them.

Especially at last year's London Fair, TTG Fair, and then coming to so many other fairs, even though people from the Maldives went, they didn't have any materials to advertise the Maldives. This is known to everyone in the entire industry, This is just how things have happened."

Yoosuf Riffath, CEO of Capital Travel Maldives.

As a leading travel agency, Capital Travel & Tours Private Limited specializes in personalized holiday packages, tailored to individual needs and preferences since inception in 1990.