Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) is strengthening the Maldives’ visibility across the Indian and wider South Asian travel markets through its participation at ITB India 2026, one of the region’s prominent business-to-business travel trade exhibitions.
The three-day exhibition, being held from 1 to 3 September 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, brings together tourism organisations, travel companies, airlines, tour operators, corporate travel professionals and other key stakeholders from across the region. Visit Maldives is using the platform to promote the Maldives’ diverse tourism offerings while strengthening relationships with travel trade partners and identifying new opportunities to expand visitor demand from India and neighbouring markets.
VMC is participating in the exhibition alongside 17 co-exhibitors representing the Maldivian tourism and aviation sectors, providing the industry with a coordinated platform to present the destination to influential travel professionals. The participation enables Maldivian tourism businesses to hold direct discussions with travel agents, tour operators, corporate travel managers, MICE planners and other industry stakeholders through scheduled one-to-one business meetings and trade networking activities.
The Maldives stand has been designed to showcase the destination’s distinctive tourism experience while supporting commercial engagement between Maldivian businesses and international travel partners. Representatives are sharing destination information, promotional materials and information on the wide range of holiday experiences available across the Maldives, supported by promotional videos and visual content highlighting the country’s natural beauty and internationally recognised hospitality sector.
The participation also allows travel trade professionals to gain greater insight into the diversity of the Maldives tourism industry, which extends across luxury resorts, private island retreats, guesthouses, hotels and liveaboards. The country’s resort sector remains central to its international tourism appeal, offering visitors access to high-quality accommodation, private beaches, marine activities, diving, water sports, wellness experiences, family-oriented facilities, fine dining and personalised hospitality across islands surrounded by the Indian Ocean.
Continued investment across the Maldives tourism sector has further expanded the range of experiences available to international travellers, with established properties undergoing enhancements while new tourism developments continue to enter the market. The Government’s broader emphasis on tourism development, connectivity, investment and destination promotion is supporting efforts to maintain the Maldives’ position as one of the world’s leading island destinations while expanding opportunities across different visitor segments.
Visitors to the Maldives stand at ITB India 2026 are also being invited to participate in a trade survey designed to gather industry insights on market trends, traveller preferences and booking behaviour. Participants will be eligible for a raffle giveaway. Information collected through the initiative is expected to support Visit Maldives and tourism industry stakeholders in better understanding changing consumer demand and developing more targeted promotional strategies for the Indian market.
Participation at ITB India forms part of Visit Maldives’ wider engagement with the Indian travel industry. Current and planned initiatives include joint marketing campaigns with leading tour operators, a joint marketing programme with IndiGo, familiarisation trips involving media representatives and influencers, and promotional activities conducted in collaboration with the High Commission of the Maldives in India.
Strengthening aviation connectivity and cooperation with travel partners remains particularly important to sustaining growth from India. Direct air access between major Indian cities and the Maldives has made the destination highly accessible for travellers seeking short-haul international holidays, while the country’s broad tourism portfolio enables it to attract couples, families, groups, corporate travellers and visitors seeking premium island experiences.
India continues to remain an important source market for the Maldives. A total of 131,625 Indian travellers visited the Maldives in 2025, while 74,173 arrivals had already been recorded as of 10 August 2026. The figures underline the continued importance of maintaining strong engagement with Indian travel partners as the Maldives works to further increase visitor numbers from one of the largest outbound travel markets in the region.
Through ITB India 2026, Visit Maldives is positioning the destination directly before travel decision-makers while giving Maldivian tourism businesses opportunities to develop partnerships, generate new business leads and strengthen existing commercial relationships. The participation also supports the Government’s wider efforts to diversify tourism markets, strengthen international destination promotion and sustain the sector’s contribution to national economic growth.
With its globally recognised resorts, white-sand beaches, extensive marine environment, high standards of hospitality and expanding portfolio of tourism experiences, the Maldives continues to offer Indian and South Asian travellers a highly accessible premium island destination. Visit Maldives’ presence in Mumbai is expected to further reinforce the country’s visibility within the regional travel trade and support continued growth from the Indian market.
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