The Maldives is strengthening its tourism presence across South East Asia as Visit Maldives Corporation participates in PATA Travel Mart (PTM) 2026, one of the Asia Pacific region’s established travel trade events, being held from 18 to 20 August at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) in Sarawak, Malaysia.
The participation provides an important international platform for the Maldives to engage directly with travel trade professionals, strengthen commercial partnerships and promote the country’s diverse tourism portfolio to buyers and industry representatives from across the Asia Pacific region and other global markets. The initiative also supports the Maldives’ continued efforts to diversify its source markets and reinforce the country’s position as one of the world’s leading year-round island destinations.
PATA Travel Mart 2026 brings together more than 1,000 delegates representing over 60 destinations worldwide and facilitates more than 10,000 pre-scheduled business-to-business appointments. The scale of the event provides participating destinations with direct access to tour operators, travel agencies, tourism businesses and other industry decision-makers seeking new destinations, products and commercial partnerships.
The Maldives is represented at this year’s event by Visit Maldives Corporation together with three tourism industry partners — Swarn by Hawks, ICOM BLUE SEAVIEW and AAA Hotels & Resorts. Their participation enables the Maldivian tourism industry to present a broader selection of accommodation, hospitality and travel experiences while establishing direct relationships with potential partners in the South East Asian market.
The Maldives’ tourism offering remains one of the country’s strongest advantages in the international travel market. Its internationally recognised resort sector combines private-island hospitality with distinctive natural surroundings, extensive beaches, clear tropical waters and access to the country’s rich marine environment. Resorts across the archipelago serve a broad range of traveller segments, from premium and luxury guests to families, couples and travellers seeking nature, recreation, relaxation and culturally enriching island experiences.
The geographical character of the Maldives has also enabled individual resorts to develop distinctive identities and guest experiences. Properties located across different atolls offer opportunities for diving, snorkelling, marine exploration, water-based recreation, excursions and encounters with the Maldives’ internationally renowned underwater environment. Alongside established high-end resorts, the country’s tourism industry has continued to expand through guesthouses, hotels, liveaboards and other accommodation options, providing international travellers with greater choice when planning a Maldivian holiday.
This diversity is an important focus of Visit Maldives Corporation’s promotional activities at PTM 2026. While the Maldives is globally recognised for premium island hospitality, the destination is increasingly being promoted as offering experiences suited to a wider variety of visitors, travel preferences and budgets. The country’s strong resort infrastructure, expanding local tourism sector, international air connectivity and extensive range of island experiences provide considerable potential for strengthening tourism demand from South East Asia.
Visit Maldives Corporation CEO and Managing Director Ibrahim Shiuree said South East Asia remains an important region for Maldivian tourism and described PATA Travel Mart as a valuable platform for strengthening engagement with the international travel trade and developing meaningful partnerships.
Shiuree said the Maldives’ participation provides an opportunity to showcase the destination beyond its well-established luxury appeal by highlighting the broad range of experiences available throughout the islands. He also emphasised the importance of obtaining greater insight into changing traveller preferences and identifying emerging opportunities within the market.
Throughout PTM 2026, Visit Maldives Corporation and the participating Maldivian tourism partners are conducting one-on-one meetings with travel trade representatives, sharing destination information and promotional materials, and engaging with industry stakeholders on emerging travel trends and consumer preferences. Promotional videos featuring the Maldives are also being screened at the Maldives stand, providing visitors with a visual introduction to the country’s islands, tourism properties and natural attractions.
The programme surrounding PTM 2026 also includes the PATA Forum and Workshops, industry networking functions and eco-tours. These activities provide additional opportunities for tourism destinations, businesses and travel professionals to exchange knowledge, establish commercial relationships and explore areas for future cooperation.
Malaysia continues to be an important source market for the Maldives. A total of 24,847 visitors from Malaysia travelled to the Maldives during 2025. Between January and June 2025, the country recorded 11,269 Malaysian arrivals, while 10,446 visitors from Malaysia travelled to the Maldives during the corresponding January-to-June period of 2026.
The wider South East Asian market also represents significant potential for Maldivian tourism. The Maldives received 72,128 visitors from the region during 2025. South East Asian markets contributed 35,198 arrivals during the first six months of 2025, compared with 31,776 arrivals between January and June 2026.
Maintaining a strong presence in markets such as Malaysia and the wider South East Asian region forms part of the Maldives’ broader tourism development and destination marketing efforts. Greater engagement with travel trade partners can help increase awareness of the range of Maldivian tourism products available, strengthen distribution networks and encourage travellers from the region to consider the Maldives for both short and extended holidays throughout the year.
The participation at PATA Travel Mart 2026 also reflects the Government’s continued emphasis on strengthening the tourism industry, expanding the Maldives’ international market reach and supporting sustainable growth across one of the country’s most important economic sectors. Through coordinated destination promotion and engagement with international travel industry partners, the Maldives continues to enhance its global visibility while opening new opportunities for resorts, hotels, guesthouses and other tourism businesses.
With its distinctive island geography, internationally recognised hospitality industry, extensive resort portfolio and diverse range of tourism experiences, the Maldives remains well positioned to attract travellers from across South East Asia. Visit Maldives Corporation’s presence at PTM 2026 is expected to further reinforce destination awareness, deepen industry relationships and support the country’s long-term objective of maintaining the Maldives as a preferred year-round destination for travellers from around the world.
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