Viva Macau, the new international low-cost Macau-based airline, has launched its first schedule flights to Male', Jakarta and Phuket. Viva Macau will fly to the Maldives twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays beginning December 21, 2006.
 
Viva Macau is the first discount carrier based in the southern Chinese city of Macau, which is few minutes boat ride to the vibrant city of Hong Kong. This airline will open up the door for Chinese and eastern tourists to travel easily to Maldives.
 
The Chinese market has been a fast emerging market for Maldivian tourism, with much promising scope for the future. Since the Maldives received Approved Destination Status (ADS) from China in December 2002, the island has received a robust increase in Chinese arrivals. Chinese tourists now account for 4.4 percent of total tourist arrivals to
Maldives.
 
Viva Macau is represented in the Maldives by Inner Maldives Holidays, one of the leading brands in the travel and tourism industry in the Maldives. Inner Maldives Holidays has been appointed as the General Sales Agent for Viva Macau in the region and the local company plans to have some major promotions in the coming months to bring some of the excitement of Macau and Hong Kong to
Maldivians.