The National Hotels and Guest House Association of Maldives (NHGAM), in partnership with Visit  Maldives and MATATO, has successfully concluded the "I AM Maldives Roadshow" held from December  17th to 20th, 2024, in Tbilisi, Georgia, and Baku, Azerbaijan. The event marked a milestone in  establishing stronger tourism connections between the Maldives and these emerging markets. 

The roadshow attracted over 300 travel industry professionals across both cities, featuring productive  B2B networking sessions with 18 co-exhibitors from the Maldives representing various sectors of the  tourism industry. The event successfully facilitated direct business connections and showcased the  diverse tourism offerings of the Maldives. 

"The overwhelming response to our roadshow in both Azerbaijan and Georgia has exceeded our  expectations," said Abdulla Nasheed, President of NHGAM. "The enthusiasm shown by local travel  partners and their keen interest in Maldives' community island tourism products indicates strong  potential for market growth in these regions." 

Highlights of the roadshow included presentations on connectivity by Azerbaijan Airlines and Air Arabia,  a destination presentation by Visit Maldives, and a showcase of community island tourism products. 

The event featured more than 40 holiday packages sponsored by leading Maldivian hotels, guesthouses,  and resorts. These packages, promoting community island tourism, are collectively valued at over  $50,000. 

The giveaways not only created excitement during the roadshow but also ensured that winning travel  agents would gain firsthand experience of the destination, enabling them to better sell the Maldives to  their clients. 

"This isn't just another roadshow – it's a strategic market penetration initiative that positions local island  tourism at the forefront of Maldives' tourism offerings," stated Ahmed Waheed, Vice President of  NHGAM. "By taking the lead in opening these new markets, we're creating unprecedented opportunities  for our members to diversify their guest demographics." 

The success of this roadshow will lay a strong foundation for increasing tourism arrivals from Azerbaijan  and Georgia to the Maldives. The connections established during these roadshows will contribute to  diversifying the Maldives' tourism portfolio, with NHGAM leading the charge in creating sustainable  growth opportunities for hotels and guesthouses across the country. 

Future roadshows are already being planned, demonstrating NHGAM's commitment to continuous  market development and member support for destination promotion. NHGAM continues to support the  growth and diversification of community tourism.