The National Hotels and Guesthouse Association of Maldives (NHGAM), in collaboration with Visit Maldives and the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), successfully launched the I AM Maldives roadshow in Warsaw yesterday, furthering efforts to strengthen ties with the Central and Eastern European market. This marks the second roadshow under the I AM Maldives brand, following last year's successful initiative in Georgia and Azerbaijan.

The Warsaw event brought together 26 participating properties representing the full spectrum of Maldivian tourism from resorts, hotels, guesthouses, liveaboards, and travel agents with over 50 Polish travel industry professionals. Poland currently holds the highest arrival figures to the Maldives among Central & European markets after Russia, making this connection particularly strategic for the destination's growth.

Poland has contributed 23,089 arrivals to the Maldives as of end of September 2025, making it a key market within the CEE region alongside Romania (13,824 arrivals) and Czech Republic (17,779 arrivals). With total arrivals to the Maldives reaching 1,636,489 through September, the CEE market represents a growing opportunity for the destination.

"The response from the Polish travel community has been exceptional," said Abdulla Nasheed, President of NHGAM. "We're seeing genuine enthusiasm for the authentic Maldivian experience, from our community-led tourism initiatives on local islands to our world-class resort offerings. This roadshow allows us to showcase the diversity of what the Maldives has to offer while building the personal connections that drive real business growth."

Key highlights from the Warsaw event included presentations on community-led tourism initiatives, destination offerings across all accommodation types, and the strategic importance of the CEE region in the Maldives' tourism development. Participants engaged in direct B2B networking sessions, established valuable partnerships, and gained insights into Polish market preferences and travel trends.

The roadshow continues to Bucharest on November 19 and concludes in Prague on November 21, where participating properties will continue fostering connections with travel professionals across the region to support the Maldives' goal of reaching 2.3 million tourist arrivals in 2025.