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

Bringing together 26 companies and more than 50 participants from across the Maldivian tourism industry, including guesthouses, resorts, hotels, liveaboards and travel agencies, the three-city roadshow provided a platform to showcase the diversity of the Maldives directly to key travel trade partners across the CIS region. 

More than 250 travel trade professionals across Moscow, St. Petersburg and Almaty attended the roadshow, including tour operators, travel agents and key industry decision-makers. The three successful events provided valuable opportunities for the Maldivian delegation to engage directly with the travel trade, strengthen existing partnerships and establish new connections within these important source markets. 

The CIS region continues to play an important role in the Maldives tourism industry. Russia recorded 278,761 arrivals to the Maldives in 2025, representing a 23.8 percent increase year-on-year.  According to the Ministry of Tourism & Civil Aviation, Russia has maintained its position as the Maldives’ second-largest source market in 2026, recording 209,815 arrivals as of 2 September, representing a 14.6 percent share of total tourist arrivals. Kazakhstan ranked 11th overall in tourist arrivals as of June 2026, with 18,602 arrivals and a 1.8 percent market share. With strengthening air connectivity and growing travel demand across the CIS region, the market continues to offer significant opportunities for the Maldivian tourism industry. 

Reflecting on the successful completion of the roadshow, Abdulla Nasheed, President of NHGAM, said, “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. 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.” 

Ahmed Waheed, Vice President of NHGAM, said, “The strong participation and engagement we received across all three cities demonstrate the importance of the CIS region for the Maldives tourism 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 ‘I AM Maldives CIS Region Roadshow’ forms part of NHGAM’s 2026 programme of international market activities aimed at strengthening the Maldives’ presence in key source markets and creating greater opportunities for Maldivian tourism businesses. Through continued engagement with international travel trade partners, NHGAM remains committed to promoting the diverse experiences offered by the Maldives and supporting sustainable growth for its members. 

The 'I AM Maldives CIS Region 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, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Almaty mark a sustained and strategic push into one of the Maldives' most vital travel regions, 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 CIS Region.