The “Maldives Visitor Survey 2011” compiled by the private consulting firm Commerce, Development and Environment (CDE) in collaboration with Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture, depicts the tourist’s viewpoint on tourism industry related products and services, reason for visiting and expenditure.
Around 3000 tourists who arrived to Maldives during April 2011 were given questionnaires, which were collected for analysis before their departure.
According to the published report on 12 January 2012, 46% of the holidaymakers believed accommodation is too expensive despite the high rankings for services at the place of stay.
Soft drinks, alcohol were also rated expensive by 42% of respondents, while food, water and souvenirs received a similar ranking from 41% respondents.
Transport by sea and air, including sports activities, meanwhile made it to the top three on the “value for money” category.
The report indicates that 53% of the tourists spent a minimum of US$1000 during their stay in Maldives, while the expenditure trends show an increase.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, tourism magnate Hussain Afeef (aka Champa Afeef) demanded more accurate figures on expenditure, with comparisons to rival small island tourism destinations.
He also challenged that the Maldives is “not an expensive country”, and that this was a mere “perception”.
“We have very top end hotels to come to” he said, which offers high quality products targeted to the tourists arriving from the traditional European market.
Holidays makers consider Maldives as an upmarket tourist destination. The recent trend in the tourism industry in the Maldives is that most hoteliers are moving away from the budget market catering for high end spa resort market.
-END
14 December 2012
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