Visit Maldives chair calls for faster tourism reforms at PATA webinar
Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) board chairperson Abdulla Giyas called for tourism diversification and faster reforms during a webinar held in collaboration with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) on Thursday, 9 April 2026.
The webinar, titled Navigate: The Conflict Playbook for Travel – Adapt, Pivot, Lead, focused on the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on global travel.
Speaking at the event, Giyas said the disruptions extended beyond regional challenges and pointed to a structural shift in global tourism patterns. He noted that the Maldives’ reliance on Middle Eastern aviation hubs had left the destination particularly exposed to the impact of these changes, affecting both arrivals and high-value tourism revenue.
Giyas said VMC had moved quickly to stabilise connectivity, support travellers on the ground, and maintain close engagement with airline and industry partners. He added that the situation also presented an opportunity to push ahead with reforms, including diversifying tourism offerings into higher-value segments such as destination weddings, sports tourism, MICE, and superyacht experiences, while addressing structural constraints affecting growth.
The webinar also featured a market analysis by Michael Shoory, Head of APAC Tourism Analysis at Tourism Economics. He said that while the Asia-Pacific tourism market was projected to grow in 2026, uncertainty linked to the Iran conflict posed risks for destinations that depend on long-haul transit.
Shoory said the baseline outlook remained cautiously optimistic, but downside risks were considerable. He added that destinations could reduce the impact by benefiting from the gradual recovery of Chinese outbound tourism and stronger intra-regional travel.
Participants also heard strategies for responding to fluctuating fuel prices and changes in traveller sentiment. Sarah Mathews, chief executive officer of E-Tourism Frontiers, spoke about targeting resilient markets and managing rising travel costs. Elizabeth Cook, director of marketing at E-Tourism Frontiers, discussed crisis communication and protecting destination reputation. The session included a live question-and-answer segment moderated by Paul Pruangkarn, director of marketing and communications at PATA.
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, global tourism losses linked to current disruptions are estimated at about USD 600 million per day. VMC said it was taking measures to protect the Maldives’ aviation-dependent economy and maintain market confidence through a structured, data-driven approach.
VMC and PATA said they would continue engaging with the travel industry through upcoming initiatives, including PATA Travel Mart, Travel Meet Asia, ITB Asia, and joint marketing campaigns with Singapore Airlines. VMC also thanked webinar participants and encouraged industry partners to remain engaged with future resources aimed at supporting sustainable tourism growth.
