Tourist arrivals from Asia Pacific region to surge with Hong Kong Airlines’ direct flights

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Tourist arrivals from the Asia Pacific region are expected to grow next year, with the commencement of direct flights by Hong Kong Airlines. The airline recently announced that it would begin operating a three-time weekly service to the Maldives starting January 16, 2018.

Hong Kong Airlines hopes to deliver an unforgettable experience to its passengers with its Airbus A330-300 aircraft featuring a two-class configuration, including 32 full-flat seats in Business Class and 260 seats in Economy Class. An immersive range of in-flight entertainment content and palatial meals will be served, according to the airline.

“The Maldives represents the perfect getaway for a growing number of travellers, having enjoyed a 5.9% year-on-year growth during the first eight months of 2017,” says Wayne Wang, Assistant Director of Commercial at Hong Kong Airlines, referring to statistics by the Maldives’ tourism ministry. “Hong Kong Airlines is looking to meet this demand, as we strive to provide customers from Hong Kong and beyond with more choices than before.”

A total of 511,081 travellers from the Asia Pacific region visited the Maldives so far this year, accounting for 45.5% of total arrivals, according to data from the tourism ministry. 265,417 Chinese tourists visited the Maldives from January to October, while the number was recorded at 28,689 in October alone. Chinese tourists account for 23.6% of the total 1.12 million tourists arrivals so far this year.

According to Hong Kong Airlines, the flights are scheduled for every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday; from Hong Kong to Velana International Airport, Malé. The flight time between Hong Kong and Malé is approximately six hours.

Hong Kong Airlines was established in 2006 and covers nearly 40 destinations across the Asia Pacific and North America. It has also been awarded the internationally acclaimed four-star rating from Skytrax since 2011. It was also the winner for Asia’s Leading Inflight Service at the World Travel Awards 2015. For more details, please visit hongkongairlines.com.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]