It’s been a tough year for countries that rely heavily on tourism to boost their economy. It’s the reason why the island-nation of Maldives has introduced the first traveler hospitality loyalty programme.
The Maldives Border Miles programme will reportedly have three tiers: Abaarana (Gold), Antara (Silver) and Aida (Bronze). The three names all come from Divehi, the Indian Ocean nation's primary local language.
According to Maldives Immigration, “Border Miles is a three-tiered loyalty programme for tourists. Tourists will earn points based on the number of visits and duration of stay. Additional points will be awarded for visits to celebrate special occasions.”
The move has been hailed as innovative from travel experts across the world, especially with tourism industries across the globe hit with the impact of COVID-19.
The Maldives, whose economy is heavily dependent on the tourism and hospitality industries, opened its borders in July.
The programme looks set to begin in December.
