The National Hotels and Guesthouse Association of Maldives (NHGAM), together with Visit Maldives and the Maldives Association of Travel Agents & Tour Operators (MATATO), is proud to announce the launch of the ‘I AM Maldives Southeast Asia Roadshow’, a targeted trade mission bringing the best of Maldivian tourism directly to two of Asia's most dynamic travel markets. The roadshow will take place in Hong Kong on April 13th and in Kuala Lumpur on April 15th, 2026. 

With 20 companies and more than 50 participants in total ( Guesthouses, Resorts, Hotels, and Travel Agencies) the Maldivian delegation will represent the full breadth and diversity of what the destination has to offer. Over 120 travel trade professionals across both cities are expected to attend, including tour operators, travel agents, and key industry decision-makers. 

"Southeast Asia holds tremendous potential for the Maldives and deserves our full and renewed attention. This roadshow marks our commitment to re-establishing our presence in the region and creating the partnerships needed to drive sustainable growth," said Ahmed Waheed, Vice President of NHGAM. 

The numbers speak for themselves. Greater China, including Hong Kong, recorded 706,033 arrivals to the Maldives in 2025, a 12.1 percent increase in 2024, cementing its position as the number one source market. Malaysia posted an outstanding 25.2 percent growth, recording 24,847 visitors compared to 19,846 previous year and signalling strong upward momentum. Southeast Asia as a whole contributed 72,128 visitors, reflecting 6 percent growth and a 3.2 percent share of total arrivals. Against this backdrop, the roadshow could not be better timed. 

"The ‘I AM Maldives Southeast Asia Roadshow’ represents a significant milestone in our efforts to promote local island tourism in key international markets. Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur present exciting opportunities for our local island tourism sector. Through this initiative, we aim to connect our guesthouse operators and local tourism businesses with these promising markets, creating sustainable growth opportunities for our members," said Abdulla Nasheed, President of NHGAM. 

"Hong Kong and Malaysia are important and high-potential markets for the Maldives. This roadshow is a strategic step to further strengthen our presence in these regions and introduce the unique offerings of the Maldives to a wider audience," said Ibrahim Shiury, CEO and MD of Visit Maldives. 

The ‘I AM Maldives Southeast Asia Roadshow’ is more than a trade event, it is a declaration of intent. As NHGAM continues to execute an ambitious calendar of international market activities in 2026, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur mark the beginning of a sustained and strategic push into Asia's most promising travel markets, with the goal of ensuring that the Maldives and all it has to offer remains front of mind for travel trade partners and travellers across the region.