Abu Dhabi: Emirates, on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), has entered into seven Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with the tourism boards and ministries of Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Seychelles, Bahamas, Warsaw, and Nigeria. These agreements aim to bolster visitor arrivals and enhance the appeal of each destination.
According to Emirates News Agency, one of the key renewals is with Tourism Malaysia, reaffirming Emirates' sustained commitment to the Southeast Asian nation. The airline plans to promote Malaysia across its global network, focusing on joint marketing promotions to position the country as a top tourist destination. Efforts will highlight Malaysia's natural landscapes, cultural heritage, and culinary experiences, alongside organizing familiarisation trips for media representatives and travel agents.
Additionally, Emirates has renewed its partnership with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) to further develop tourism and trade industries. Joint initiatives aim to showcase Sri Lanka to key feeder markets, thereby boosting the island's popularity. The collaboration has already resulted in over 2 million visitors to Sri Lanka in 2024, with Emirates carrying 240,000 passengers from major markets including Russia, the UK, Germany, Australia, China, and the US.
In Morocco, Emirates will collaborate with the Moroccan National Tourist Office to enhance inbound tourism from key destinations. This aligns with Morocco's strategic plan to double its tourism sector and rank among the top 20 global destinations. In 2024, Morocco saw a record 17.4 million tourists, and the partnership aims to further these numbers by leveraging Emirates' global network.
Similarly, Emirates and Tourism Seychelles have reaffirmed their commitment to boosting the travel and tourism sector in Seychelles. Since their partnership began in 2013, Emirates has been instrumental in attracting tourists, with over 350,000 arrivals in 2024. Joint marketing campaigns have particularly targeted European markets.
In the Bahamas, Emirates and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will undertake joint promotional campaigns to increase tourist arrivals. The ministry will aid Emirates by providing promotional giveaways, special packages, and incentives to travel agents and tour operators in key markets.
For the first time, Emirates will collaborate with the Warsaw Tourism Organisation to develop inbound traffic to Warsaw. Efforts will include joint advertising campaigns and familiarisation trips for media representatives, aiming to enhance Warsaw's cultural image and solidify its position as a central European gateway.
Lastly, Emirates has partnered with the Nigerian Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy to attract international visitors to Nigeria. This partnership is supported by a recent interline agreement between Emirates and Air Peace, extending Emirates' reach to 13 additional cities in Nigeria. Both parties will develop programs for trade partners and explore various marketing initiatives.