Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) launched

What is MATATO?

MATATO is an association which functions the interest of it’s’ members to develop unity, strength, and build business relationship, rules and regulation and a system among the hoteliers, travel agents and tour operators. Her aim is as follows:

To unite, supervise and co-ordinate the activities of the members.
To publish, encourage, promote develop and expand the travel and tour operator industry in the Maldives.
To mediate and arbitrate to resolve any dispute either amongst members or between any member's) and a consumer's), the consent of both parties concerned.

Why MATATO was found?

Since the first resort was established in 1972, more than 87 islands have been developed, with a total capacity of some 19,000 beds. The number of tourists (mainly from Europe) visiting the Maldives increased from 1,100 in 1972 to 617,000 in 2004. The average occupancy rate is 84%, though this figure was smaller for 2005 due to the tsunami, with the average tourist staying 8 days. Maldives is one of the top ten holiday destinations in the world. Tourism has been sustainable developed in a manner over the past 3 decades with great care and interest of both environmental aspects as well as quality.

The Travel agents and Tour operators of Maldives have played a great role up to today with greatest difficulties and achieved success through a period of time; where there is no umbrella for them to be protected by law the rights of the travel agent and tour operators.

Today, was the first step of us, the local travel agents and tour operators who have pledge, to form an Association to safe guard the interests of it members by the following founder members:

Mr. YOOSUF RIFFATH Managing Director of Capital Travel
Mr. AHAMED SHAREEF Managing Director of World link Travel (W.L.T Private Limited)
Mr. SHAMOON MOHAMED Managing Director Leisure Maldives
Mr. AHMED ADIL Managing Director of Maldives Connection Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. MOHAMED FIRAAG Managing Director of Inner Maldives Holidays Pvt Ltd.

Mr. IBRAHIM SHAFEU

MATATO’s Objectives:

To develop friendship and common purpose among the members.
To make representations on behalf of members to Government and all organizations or individuals with which the Association has common interests.
To seek affiliations with other organizations connected with the tourism and travel industry within or outside the country.
To nominate from among the members, representatives to serve on committees related to tourism and travel industry, either locally or internationally.
To encourage highest ethical standards of business conduct within the tourism and travel industry by formulating a Code of Ethics which shall be approved by a General Meeting of members and to implement the same.
To study develop and to promote the Travel Agent and Tour Operator industry and to educate the public.
To encourage social activities which will promote understanding, goodwill and friendship networking amongst members.
To promote fair competition in the spirit of free enterprises.
To conduct regular activities for the purpose of training and educating potential staff for Travel Agent and Tour Operator.

Benefits:

MATATO works with its members to promote a Code of Ethics and Practice, and to stimulate, encourage and promote the desire to travel in and out bound. We are in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and other Tourism Sectors. Our benefits are as follows:

To train staff in the skills required for the 21st century - customer relations, selling skills, ecommerce, new technology, the law and regulation the travel industry.
To have seminars, organize travel functions.
To enhance the travel shows in the country.
To enhance quality standards and to develop training, qualifications and professionalism to the National standard
To enhance the MATATO website to promote the services of MATATO and its member.
To manage the change process and to keep members informed through regular online news – MATATO, action, seminars, the annual conference and industry communication.
To act as a neutral independent organization to facilitate members and industry issue.
To formulate rules and regulation in the Ministry of Tourism to protect its’ member and client.