A high-level Maldivian delegation has embarked on an official visit to China as part of the Government's efforts to deepen tourism cooperation and further strengthen the Maldives' position in its largest tourism source market.
The visit, taking place from 1 to 11 July, is jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and the Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC), with participation from Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), the national airline Maldivian, and leading tourism industry associations.
The delegation is headed by the Minister of State for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Haris Mohamed, while VMC is represented by its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Ibrahim Shiuree. During the visit, the delegation will travel to Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, where they will engage with key stakeholders across China's tourism and aviation sectors.
The mission comes at a time when the global travel industry continues to adjust to evolving geopolitical developments in the Middle East, which have affected international transit routes and influenced travel patterns. In response, the Government has intensified its engagement with resilient, high-potential source markets such as China to sustain tourism growth, strengthen market confidence and identify more convenient travel options for visitors.
Throughout the visit, the delegation will hold a series of high-level meetings with Chinese government officials, airline representatives, tour operators, travel agencies and travel technology companies. Discussions will focus on strengthening partnerships, enhancing air connectivity, expanding market access and increasing tourist arrivals to the Maldives.
The programme also includes networking events in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, where the Maldives will showcase its diverse tourism offerings across the leisure, luxury and emerging travel segments. The events are expected to further promote the Maldives as a safe, world-class destination while creating new opportunities for collaboration with the Chinese travel trade.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, the visit forms part of the Government's broader strategy to reinforce partnerships with key tourism stakeholders and sustain the industry's strong growth momentum despite current global challenges. The initiative also aims to maintain confidence in the Maldives as a premier holiday destination while supporting the long-term, sustainable development of the tourism sector.
China continues to be the Maldives' largest tourism source market. More than 168,677 Chinese tourists had visited the Maldives by the end of June this year, representing a 19.8 percent increase compared with the same period last year.
The Ministry and Visit Maldives Corporation say they will continue working closely with international partners across all major source markets in the months ahead to strengthen connectivity, expand the Maldives' global market reach and ensure visitors continue to enjoy a safe, seamless and world-class travel experience.
