Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) has announced its strongest self-generated financial performance in eight years, underscoring a successful year for both the corporation and the wider Maldivian tourism industry. The achievement was presented at the corporation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), where shareholders reviewed a year defined by sustained tourism growth, stronger governance, and an expanded international marketing presence for the Maldives. During the meeting, shareholders also reviewed and approved the corporation’s Annual Report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025.
According to VMC, the corporation generated total self-generated income of USD 2.11 million in 2025, marking the highest annual income recorded by the organisation over the past eight years. The revenue was derived from membership contributions, participation in international trade fairs and roadshows, publications, and other commercial activities. This performance reflects growing stakeholder confidence in the corporation’s work, as well as continued progress in broadening revenue streams and strengthening commercial engagement across the tourism sector.
The AGM also reflected on an exceptional year for Maldivian tourism, with the destination welcoming more than two million tourist arrivals in 2025. The country reached that figure earlier than ever before, highlighting the Maldives’ continued appeal among travellers worldwide. Tourism receipts surpassed USD 5.57 billion during the year, representing a 16.4 percent increase compared to the previous year. These results further reinforce tourism’s central role in the national economy and demonstrate the resilience, appeal, and international competitiveness of the Maldives as a premium global destination.
VMC stated that it contributed to these broader industry results through a wide range of destination marketing and promotional efforts carried out across key global markets. These included destination campaigns, international trade engagement, strategic partnerships, media outreach, and digital promotion initiatives designed to strengthen the Maldives’ visibility and maintain its strong position in an increasingly competitive international tourism environment. Through these efforts, the corporation continued to support the country’s tourism businesses while promoting the Maldives’ distinct appeal to both established and emerging visitor markets.
Speaking at the AGM, Chairperson of the Board of Directors Abdulla Ghiyas Riyaz said the achievements recorded during 2025 reflected the collective efforts of the tourism industry and the corporation’s continued commitment to enhancing the destination’s competitiveness. He stated that the results demonstrated the strength of the Maldives tourism industry and the importance of collaboration among government institutions, industry stakeholders, and international partners. He added that while the corporation’s record financial performance reflected stronger stakeholder engagement and commercial growth, the wider success lay in supporting a tourism industry that continues to generate substantial economic value for the country while preserving the Maldives’ standing as one of the world’s most sought-after destinations.
The meeting also reviewed several important governance developments implemented during the reporting year. In July 2025, the corporation was officially rebranded from Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation to Visit Maldives Corporation under a Presidential Decree, reflecting a renewed institutional direction and a stronger global positioning strategy. During the year, the Board convened 30 meetings, adopted 70 board resolutions, and passed 59 circular resolutions, demonstrating active oversight and decision-making. In addition, two Extraordinary General Meetings were held to approve the corporate name change and the expansion of the Board from seven to nine directors, further strengthening the corporation’s governance framework and organisational capacity.
On the international stage, the Maldives continued to earn prestigious recognition in 2025. The country secured the title of World’s Leading Destination at the World Travel Awards for the sixth consecutive year and was also named World’s Leading Green Destination for the second consecutive year. These accolades reflect the enduring international appeal of the Maldives, its strong brand value in the global travel industry, and its continued progress in advancing responsible and sustainable tourism practices alongside premium visitor experiences.
The AGM further highlighted the scale of VMC’s destination marketing activities throughout the year. These included 46 destination campaigns, 27 collaborative initiatives, participation in 16 international trade fairs, 14 familiarisation trips, 27 public relations activities, and strategic engagements across key source markets. Together, these initiatives illustrate the corporation’s broad and sustained efforts to position the Maldives prominently on the global tourism map and to support continued arrival growth through consistent international outreach.
The corporation’s latest performance reflects a period of strong institutional progress and a highly favourable outlook for the destination. With robust tourism arrivals, higher industry earnings, active global engagement, and stronger governance, Visit Maldives Corporation has closed 2025 on a highly encouraging note, reinforcing confidence in the Maldives’ continued success as one of the world’s premier travel destinations.
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