MATATO Leads Maldives Showcase at QTM with Visit Maldives Corporation and NHGAM

The Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) is set to lead a powerful Maldives presence at Qatar Travel Mart (QTM), held from 24–26 November at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC). As lead organiser of the Maldives delegation, MATATO will host the official Maldives stand, in partnership with Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) as Official Destination Partner and NHGAM (National Hotels and Guest House Association of Maldives) as Strategic Partner.

This collaboration positions the Maldives as one of the most visible island destinations at a show that now draws 300+ exhibitors from 60 countries and around 12,000 visitors, underscoring QTM’s rapid rise as a leading regional travel marketplace.

A Unified Maldives Platform: MATATO, VMC and NHGAM

At QTM, the Maldives stand is more than just a visual showcase – it is a unified national platform that brings together policy, private sector, and community-based tourism.

● Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC), as the official destination marketing body, anchors the stand with the national “Maldives” brand and long-term market strategies.

● MATATO coordinates and leads the trade delegation, curating B2B meetings, networking, and media visibility for Maldivian partners.

● NHGAM ensures that guesthouses and local island tourism – a key pillar in the Fifth Tourism Master Plan 2023–2027 – are represented alongside resorts and high-end DMCs, reflecting the country’s focus on inclusive, community-linked growth.

This tripartite model mirrors national tourism policy: diversify markets, strengthen yield, and spread benefits beyond resort islands into inhabited communities.

A Strong Line-Up of Co-Exhibitors

The Maldives stand at QTM features over ten co-exhibitors, representing a healthy cross-section of the industry:

● Leading destination management companies (DMCs) such as Resort Life Travel, Neoscapes Maldives, Pearl Travel Service and others focusing on Qatar and GCC outbound business.

● Ultra-luxury and lifestyle brands like Ultra Luxury Maldives, curating private jet, villa and yacht experiences tailored to high-net-worth guests from the region.

● Resorts and properties such as Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort, positioned strongly for GCC family and lifestyle travellers.

Together, these co-exhibitors offer a full spectrum of Maldivian product – from ultra-luxury resort stays and bespoke itineraries, to local-island guesthouse experiences that appeal to younger, experience-driven travellers.

Why QTM – and Why Now?

Qatar and the wider GCC are no longer “emerging” markets – they are core strategic feeder markets for premium island destinations like the Maldives.

● Qatar’s outbound market alone accounts for around 1.9 million trips and approximately USD 13.5 billion in travel spend in a single year, making it one of the most valuable outbound markets globally.

● The broader GCC outbound travel market was valued at about USD 76.4 billion in 2024, with projections of over USD 81 billion in 2025 and strong growth (7.6% CAGR) through to 2037.

● Globally, the Middle East is leading tourism recovery, with international arrivals in the region 29% above 2019 levels in the first nine months of 2024 – a higher rebound than any other region.

Within this context, Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) has evolved into a high-impact B2B platform, bringing together destinations, airlines, DMCs and key buyers from across the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Recent editions have significantly scaled up, with expanded floor space and a strong conference agenda around innovation, sustainability and sports tourism.

For the Maldives, investing in a bigger, more coordinated presence at QTM is a strategic move: it positions the destination at the heart of a region where high-spending family, luxury, and stopover travellers are actively looking for new experiences.

Feeder Market Numbers: Why the Middle East Matters to the Maldives

The Maldives is in a growth phase and increasingly focused on market diversification:

● The country welcomed around 2,046,615 tourists in 2024, up roughly 9% from 2023

● The Middle East sent more than 80,000 visitors to the Maldives in 2024, accounting for about 4.3% of total arrivals – a meaningful and growing share

● As of mid-2025, the Maldives had already surpassed one million visitors for the year, with traditional top markets such as China, Russia, the UK, Italy and Germany still leading, but Middle Eastern arrivals gaining momentum as airlines and routes expand.

Qatar specifically is trending upwards as a feeder market. Central bank data show that monthly tourist arrivals from Qatar to the Maldives exceeded 1,200 visitors in August 2025, a 64% year-on-year increase, indicating rapid growth from this single market.

In parallel, tourism remains the backbone of the Maldivian economy, contributing over 60% of GDP and generating around USD 5.6 billion in tourism earnings in 2024. Strengthening high-value markets like Qatar and the GCC directly translates to more stable revenues, better yield, and resilience against shocks in any one traditional source market.

What This QTM Presence Means for the Maldives

MATATO’s leadership at QTM, supported by VMC and NHGAM, carries several layers of impact:

1. Deeper Penetration into High-Value Segments QTM brings together top-tier buyers, corporate travel planners, luxury agencies and MICE organisers. For Maldivian co-exhibitors, this is an opportunity to:

○ Secure longer-stay, higher-spend bookings from premium GCC travellers.

○ Promote family-friendly villas, wellness retreats and halal-friendly products tailored to Middle Eastern preferences.

○ Position the Maldives as a year-round escape rather than just a honeymoon destination.

2. Visibility for Guesthouses and Local-Island Tourism With NHGAM as a strategic partner, the stand showcases guesthouses and small hotels alongside resorts. This:

○ Supports the government’s vision to spread tourism benefits to local communities and SMEs.

○ Appeals to younger, budget-conscious GCC travellers and expatriate communities in Qatar who are seeking authentic experiences rather than only ultra-luxury stays.

3. Stronger Air Connectivity and Trade Partnerships Qatar’s role as a global aviation hub, especially through Hamad International Airport and Qatar Airways, makes QTM a natural stage for:

○ Negotiating more capacity, promotions, and joint marketing on Maldives routes.

○ Building multi-city itineraries that combine Qatar stopovers with Maldives stays, enhancing value for travellers and boosting arrivals for both countries.

4. Aligning with the Fifth Tourism Master Plan The Fifth Tourism Master Plan emphasizes market diversification, sustainability, and inclusive growth as strategic priorities for 2023–2027.

○ A strong presence at QTM directly supports the “new market growth” and “resilient tourism” pillars by tapping into a region that is expanding faster than the global average

Looking Ahead

By bringing together MATATO’s trade leadership, VMC’s global branding, NHGAM’s grassroots network, and a curated roster of resorts, guesthouses and DMCs, the Maldives stand at QTM is designed to do more than just “show up” – it is there to convert interest into tangible business for 2024, 2025 and beyond.