Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) on Tuesday signed an agreement with an Indonesian company to develop Virtual Reality (VR) 360 photography based multimedia content to promote Maldives tourism.
At a ceremony held at MMPRC office in capital Male, MMPRC’s Acting Managing Director Haris Mohamed and PT Gecko Digital Indonesia’s Founder and CEO James South signed the agreement.
In a statement, MMPRC said Gecko Digital will create standalone native application to promote the destination, and revamp the official destination promotion website of Maldives by including VR and 360 photography based technologies. The company will also provide extensive training and assistance to fully utilise the software, it added.
According to MMPRC, the contents created by Gecko Digital will be used at events and fairs participated by MMPRC to enhance the visitor experience through VR technology.
“It is believed that this collaboration will help promote the Maldives as a tourist destination and take Maldives to the highest level in the digital arena by providing the visitors with a virtual reality experience of the destination,” the statement read.
Gecko Digital is a leading multimedia provider that offers the highest quality HD 360 virtual reality, virtual tours, promotional videography, commercial still photography and creative content development for sophisticated web-based marketing.
MMPRC has earlier announced plans to participate in 17 international travel fairs in 2018, in a bid to ramp up tourism promotion.
Meanwhile, MVR 50 million (USD 3.3 million) have been allocated from the proposed budget for 2018 for tourism promotion.
Why VR and 360° Content Matters for Maldives Tourism
The Maldives competes with destinations worldwide for traveller attention. Static photos can’t capture what makes an overwater villa special, the colour of the lagoon at sunrise, or the layout of a private island resort. That’s where immersive 360° content changes the game for tourism boards and resort marketers.
When MMPRC partnered with our team to build VR experiences, the goal was simple: give potential guests a real sense of place before they book. Virtual tours let travellers explore a resort’s rooms, dining venues, and house reefs from anywhere in the world. It’s the closest thing to visiting without the flight.
How Resorts Use 360° Tours to Win Bookings
Resorts that publish interactive tours on their websites typically see longer session times and higher direct booking rates. Guests who explore a property in 360° arrive at the booking page already convinced. They’ve picked their villa category, walked the jetty, and pictured themselves at the spa.
If you’re a Maldives resort looking to add 360° content to your marketing mix, our virtual tour production service covers everything from capture to web integration. You can also check our rate card for current pricing.
What Hospitality Leaders Say About VR Tours
The impact of immersive 360° content isn’t theoretical. Bernard Ramen, General Manager at One and Only Le Saint Geran, has seen it firsthand: ‘I first worked with Gecko Digital to create a virtual tour of a previous property I worked at, and the results were extremely positive, with strong engagement and clear impact on bookings. So I had full confidence in bringing them back to capture additional areas at One and Only Le Saint Geran.’
Luca Guerra, Director of Sales and Marketing at St. Regis Le Morne, puts it in practical terms for sales teams: ‘The tool has been a great resource for Sales and Reservations to reflect the unique features of the resort, and had a positive contribution to business.’
These aren’t edge cases. Across luxury resort brands in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives, and Southeast Asia, 360° virtual tours have become a core part of how properties convert interest into confirmed bookings.
About Gecko Digital
Gecko Digital is a multimedia production company with over 10 years of experience and more than 700 clients across the hospitality, real estate, and tourism sectors. The team specialises in HD 360° virtual reality, virtual tours, promotional videography, and commercial photography built for web-based marketing.
The company has produced virtual tours for some of the most recognised names in luxury hospitality, including Ritz Carlton Bangkok, One and Only Le Saint Geran, and properties across the Anantara and Avani brands under Minor Hotels and Resorts. Shanaka Perera, VP Digital and Marketing at Minor Hotels and Resorts, notes: ‘Their team delivers consistently high-quality work and understands how to present our properties in a way that aligns with our brand standards.’
Ali Abdulla, General Manager at Atmosphere Core, describes the working relationship this way: ‘Their hands-on approach and strong support across production and post-production ensure high quality output and delivery for each individual product. Always accessible and easy to work with, the team has a clear understanding of the luxury resort segment.’
Frequently Asked Questions
What did MMPRC commission Gecko Digital to produce?
MMPRC signed an agreement with PT Gecko Digital Indonesia to develop VR 360° photography-based multimedia content for Maldives tourism promotion. The scope included a standalone native application, a revamp of the official Maldives destination website with VR and 360° technology, and staff training to fully use the software.
How is VR content used at travel fairs and tourism events?
Gecko Digital’s 360° content is deployed at international travel fairs and events where MMPRC participates, letting visitors put on a headset and experience the Maldives before they’ve booked a flight. It turns a booth visit into an immersive destination preview.
Does 360° content actually affect booking decisions?
Yes. Bernard Ramen of One and Only Le Saint Geran reported ‘strong engagement and clear impact on bookings’ after implementing a Gecko Digital virtual tour. Luca Guerra at St. Regis Le Morne confirmed the tool ‘had a positive contribution to business’ by helping sales and reservations teams showcase the property’s unique features.
Can resorts outside the Maldives use this type of content?
Absolutely. Gecko Digital has produced virtual tours for luxury properties across Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, and beyond, including brands under Marriott, Minor Hotels, and Atmosphere Core.
Add a testimonial block quoting Bernard Ramen, General Manager at One and Only Le Saint Geran: ‘I first worked with Gecko Digital to create a virtual tour of a previous property I worked at, and the results were extremely positive, with strong engagement and clear impact on bookings.’ Pair it with Luca Guerra’s note that the St. Regis Le Morne virtual experience ‘had a positive contribution to business’ for the sales and reservations team. These named, outcome-linked quotes directly substantiate the booking-lift claims already on the page.
Add a short paragraph naming at least one completed Maldives or Indian Ocean property Gecko Digital has captured since the MMPRC agreement, or reference the Aqua Blu Indonesia project and the St. Regis Le Morne work as proof the team delivers at this scale. For example: ‘Since signing with MMPRC, our team has gone on to produce virtual tours for properties including [resort name], applying the same capture-to-integration workflow we used for St. Regis Le Morne and Aqua Blu Indonesia.’ This closes the credibility gap between announcement and proof of delivery.
Add a three-question FAQ section with schema markup covering: (1) How does MMPRC use VR content at international travel fairs? Answer with specifics about the 17 fairs planned for 2018 and how immersive content replaces static brochures at stands. (2) What does a destination VR project with Gecko Digital include? Answer referencing the standalone native app, website integration, and staff training delivered under this agreement. (3) How long does it take to produce 360 content for a tourism board? Provide a realistic timeline range. This gives AI engines structured, citable answers tied directly to the page topic.
