NHGAM Concludes ‘I AM Maldives’ CIS Roadshow in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Almaty

The National Hotels and Guesthouse Association of Maldives (NHGAM), together with Visit Maldives and the Maldives Association of Travel Agents & Tour Operators (MATATO), has concluded the ‘I AM Maldives CIS Region Roadshow’, held in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Almaty from 21 to 25 September 2026.

The three-city roadshow brought together 26 Maldivian tourism companies and more than 50 participants representing guesthouses, resorts, hotels, liveaboards and travel agencies. More than 250 travel trade professionals attended across the three cities, giving the delegation opportunities to strengthen existing partnerships and build new connections with tour operators, travel agents and other industry decision-makers.

The CIS region remains an important market for Maldivian tourism. Russia recorded 278,761 arrivals to the Maldives in 2025, up 23.8 percent year on year. According to the Ministry of Tourism & Civil Aviation, Russia remained the Maldives’ second-largest source market in 2026, with 209,815 arrivals as of 2 September, accounting for 14.6 percent of total arrivals. Kazakhstan ranked 11th as of June 2026, with 18,602 arrivals and a 1.8 percent market share.

“The successful conclusion of the I AM Maldives CIS Region Roadshow marks an important step in our continued efforts to promote local island tourism in key international markets,” said NHGAM President Abdulla Nasheed.

“Moscow, St. Petersburg and Almaty provided excellent opportunities for our members to connect directly with travel trade professionals and strengthen awareness of the diverse experiences available across the Maldives. We are pleased with the engagement throughout all three cities and look forward to building on these relationships to create further opportunities for our members.”

NHGAM Vice President Ahmed Waheed said the participation across all three cities showed the region’s importance to the industry.

“The roadshow allowed our delegation to present the wide range of accommodation and travel experiences available in the Maldives while strengthening relationships with partners across the region. We are grateful to everyone who participated and contributed to making each of the three events a success.”

The roadshow forms part of NHGAM’s 2026 programme of international market activities, aimed at raising the Maldives’ profile in key source markets and creating opportunities for Maldivian tourism businesses. NHGAM said it will continue working with international travel trade partners to promote the country’s diverse experiences and support sustainable growth for its members.