Addu City Council has revealed that over MVR 700,000 was spent to send 10 delegates to the World Travel Market in London last month, where they aimed to promote Addu's tourism.
According to details shared by the council with Mihaaru News under the Right to Information Act, the council allocated MVR 528,027 from its budget for the event, which took place from November 2 to November 11. In addition to this, MVR 196,111 from the trust fund was used, bringing the total expenditure to MVR 724,138.
Although the delegation was initially planned to include 10 people, one councilor had to stay behind due to health reasons, so only nine participated in the trip. The team consisted of Mayor Ali Nizar, four councilors, a council executive, a council officer, a public relations officer, and the art director of Enkria Studio, who served as a technical expert.
The expenses included MVR 213,582 for round-trip tickets from Addu to Male’ and from Male’ to London, MVR 472,006 for accommodation and meals in London, MVR 15,420 for stopover costs, and MVR 23,130 for pocket money.
Addu City Council emphasized that their participation in the event was intended to promote Addu's tourism and establish the city's brand on a global scale.
In their post visit report, the council explained that the decision to focus on branding Addu’s tourism at the travel market stemmed from the city’s historical connection with British protection and the relationship between the two during and after World War II.
The council also stated that the purpose of attending the event was not only to promote tourism but also to invite visitors to experience Addu's unique heritage and culture. The contacts and insights gained during the trip have motivated them to work towards further improving Addu's economy.
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