EM ES & Beyond

Not even dreamed of the vastness of the deep blue ocean surrounded. A whale’s life is barricaded by a glass-shielded wall protected by heavy concrete. Her daily make-up is just for the moment. Moving only to the limit of the pool’s depth. Limited with the tiled mirrors in the bottom and four sides of it. Her only worry is the loss of glamour and fame if she is freed, not knowing the vastness of the ocean surrounded. Lacking the courage to  realize how potential a free world around may be Continue reading »

Today we hear about the signing of an agreement between Dutch Docklands and Maldivian government to develop a floating convention center and a golf course.

In an outset, what a creative idea!

With all the frailty and political hype, we seems to be progressing creatively. While reading the news, I understood this is something to do with tourism because attractions do play a vital role in shaping destination’s image.

In a time, investors are so skeptical about the future of tourism due to instability in every front including the increasing crime rates, I am wondering whether we could have asked the Dutch guys to help us build a floating prision and a floating bank at first?

You probably know why right?

- They say, no money to develop new islands into resorts?

- “No money to have money” (we talk about dollar shortage while tourism generates hundreds of millions) A floating bank maybe a good idea to float money between us and the big ones?

- Increased crime rates, murder, theft, illegal drugs, robbing etc etc… may be the next big threat for the future tourist to the Maldives? Maybe a floating prision may be a way to solve these issues?

Good luck guys!

I called it the dream fly.

When the floats off the water, you start to look around, up and down from the window. If you are flying direct to Ari Atoll, Dhaalu or the southern atolls, you’ll see the capital Male’ either from left or right.Whatever direction  it maybe, I have seen visitors often aroused with the stunning view of Male’ in the Indian ocean.So fascinating it is, that, it looks like as if a piece of HongKong right beneath the float. Maybe people don’t expect such a concrete park in the Maldives because, all what they knew about the country maybe white sandy beaches and tall palm trees.I take this positive though. It is 100% certain that when you fly above Maldives, you wont miss paradise. In fact it is time that we start to develop an iconic image about this unplanned city in the sunny side of life. Maybe the smallest big city in the wold.

It is believed to be the millennium’s longest annular solar eclipse on Friday. Maldives is one of the ideal locations to see the full eclipse. It is sad though, this event has not been proparly communicated in our markets. I couldn’t see this on our official tourism websites like, the visit Maldives or in Ministry’s official site either…

The eclipse starts in the Maldives at 10:15 a.m. (10:45 IST) and peaks at 12:20 p.m. (12:50 IST) before ending at 1:40 p.m. (14:10 IST).

Aquamarine, the India’s first eclips ship is now sailing to the Maldives… It is believed that there are some 900 and over guests aboard the ship.

“I have especially come with my two children to watch the eclipse. I don’t know much about solar eclipse and this was the opportunity to know it. After watching the eclipse, we will visit the city and other small islands,” Mansi Singh, a resident of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, told an IANS correspondent abroad the ship.

In such events, I wonder why we keep silent? If that becomes an attraction to Maldives, why don’t the destination be proactive and capitalize on such events?
 

QUICK READS….

Why a collective marketing approach is important in selling Maldives?

• Because tourism is the country’s major economic activity

• Fierce competition with relatively similar features (external forces)

• Tourism is a homogeneous product and a very sensitive trade 

• Tourism contributes nearly 30% to the GDP of the Maldives

• It hits hard on country’s economy in downturns

• The percentage share of tourism revenue to the government remains 28% in 2008

• Tourism sector employs nearly 30,000 employees and most probably any impact some way or the other related to every single family in the country.

Global warming is not a myth but a serious challenge. A very clear and a present danger. We may be one of the first victims. We should talk about it. Talk and cry aloud. However, is it the only concern? The top priority?

“Global warming and sea level rise….”

Are we shouting too loud about it?

Let’s be pragmatic. Do you believe the big guys will listen to us so sympathetically?

Ok… we ask…

Dear USA, China, our big brother India, could you please save us. United Nations, do you have any contingency plan for “WE” the sinking Maldivians… Our greatest ally, the Great Mighty Britain, now that we have a president whom you like, can you save us? He talks about human rights and try to change our popular culture. He doesn’t talk about religion like you said but to seize trouble, a separate ministry to write Friday sermons.

For the sake of 300,000 Maldivian will you compromise your progress and stop operating your economic engines?

Is there anybody out there who could rent us a dry land? Our president’s wish lists starts with the call for a dry land? Who among you will sell a land ?

Hang on Mr. President.

You should not follow the footsteps of your predecessor to secure an artificial legacy and gain popularity at the cost of WE ordinary citizen.

You said we are sinking… and well… but … aaahhh, you know… you could still come and invest because Maldives is a perfect place for investments.

They say… it’s a perfect place for tourism and you say yes and no… we are Sun Sand and Jihad? Because our boys are with Taliban.

Hey Mr. President, which bother us much?

-          Increased drug addicts and a total loss of a loving generation? Almost half of our youth victims?

-          Increased juvenile crimes, killing, robbing, theft and murder?

-          Our justice system?

-          National Bankruptcy?

-          Disparity of income and the great divide between poor and rich?

-          Land rent in Male’?

-          The cost of political rivalry between DRP and MDP?

Which really sink Maldives?

Brand images of countries are just as important to their success in the global marketplace as those of products and services. In a highly integrated global market place, symbolic values of products, have led countries to strengthen their distinctive characteristics.

In the Nation Branding Index (officially Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index) tourism, people, exports, governance, investments and immigration, culture and heritage are marked as six different categories to determine the overall image of a nation.

Out of these six categories, tourism sector captures the level of interest in visiting a country and the draw of natural and man-made tourist attractions. For instance, in 2008, Italy dominated first place followed by France as second and third place to Spain.

Such a result can be the long term effect from an image that is created. Not perhaps knowingly but over the time and with several other factors that took place in world history. Especially in the case of Italy, France and Spain.