Zaha Travels has completed a productive first day at the I AM Maldives CIS Region Roadshow 2026, meeting travel agents and tourism professionals in Moscow on 21 September. The Moscow event marked the beginning of a three-city roadshow across Russia and Kazakhstan, and an important step in Zaha Travels' plans to begin developing the Russian market.
Through a series of direct meetings, the Zaha Travels team introduced the company's Maldives services, discussed opportunities with new travel agents, and gained a clearer understanding of what Russian travellers and their agency partners are looking for when planning holidays to the Maldives.
Productive meetings with Russian travel agents
According to Zaha Travels Operations Manager Naushad, the first day of meetings was highly productive and created opportunities to establish relationships with travel agents the company had not previously worked with.
The roadshow has given Zaha Travels a direct entry point into the Russian travel market, allowing the team to introduce its services personally and begin developing relationships based on local destination knowledge, reliable rates and support in the Maldives. Rather than approaching the market remotely, the event has enabled the team to speak directly with agents, understand their expectations and discuss how Zaha Travels can support their Maldives bookings.
These initial conversations will now be followed by continued communication, suitable resort and guesthouse recommendations, and the development of commercial relationships with interested agencies.
Building a stronger Maldives portfolio for the Russian market
Zaha Travels already holds direct contracts with a range of resorts and guesthouses that align with accommodation options commonly requested within the Russian market. This provides a practical foundation from which to begin serving Russian travel agents and their clients, the existing portfolio covers different styles of Maldives holidays, including private island resorts and locally operated guesthouses.
As Zaha Travels develops the market, the company will continue adding relevant properties and offers to provide agents with a wider selection across different budgets, island experiences and traveller preferences. The objective is not simply to offer more properties, but to ensure travel partners receive suitable choices supported by clear information, responsive communication and assistance from a team based in the Maldives.
Why the Russian market matters to the Maldives
Russia continues to be one of the Maldives' most important international tourism markets. According to Visit Maldives Corporation, the Maldives welcomed 278,761 travellers from Russia in 2025, an increase of 23.8% compared with the previous year. Russia remained the Maldives' second-largest source market in 2026, recording 209,815 arrivals as of 2 September and accounting for 14.6% of total arrivals during that period.
These figures demonstrate both the scale of the market and the importance of maintaining strong relationships with Russian tour operators and travel agencies. For Zaha Travels, entering the market through direct travel-trade engagement creates an opportunity to build those relationships from the beginning and better understand the booking patterns, resort preferences and service expectations of Russian travellers.
About the I AM Maldives CIS Region Roadshow 2026
The I AM Maldives CIS Region Roadshow 2026 is being conducted by the National Hotels and Guesthouse Association of Maldives (NHGAM), together with Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) and the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO). The roadshow brings the Maldivian tourism industry directly to key markets across Russia, the wider CIS region and Central Asia.
A delegation of 25 Maldivian tourism companies and more than 50 participants is taking part, representing resorts, guesthouses, hotels, liveaboards and travel agencies. More than 180 travel-trade professionals are expected to attend across the three cities. The programme gives participating Maldivian companies an opportunity to meet travel agents and tour operators directly, strengthen existing relationships and establish new commercial connections, presenting the wider diversity of Maldives tourism, from luxury island resorts to locally operated guesthouses and other accommodation experiences available across the country.
Next stops: St. Petersburg and Almaty
Following the conclusion of the Moscow event, the Zaha Travels team will continue to the remaining two destinations on the roadshow:
- 23 September 2026 – St. Petersburg, Russia
- 25 September 2026 – Almaty, Kazakhstan
The upcoming meetings will provide further opportunities to introduce Zaha Travels to travel professionals, understand the requirements of each market, and establish relationships with agencies interested in working with a Maldives-based travel partner. Kazakhstan is also an important developing market for Maldives tourism, according to the roadshow organisers, the country ranked 11th among Maldives source markets as of June 2026, with 18,602 arrivals and a 1.8% market share.
Together, the three roadshow destinations give Zaha Travels access to both an established Maldives market in Russia and further growth opportunities across Kazakhstan and the wider region.
Supporting travel partners from within the Maldives
Zaha Travels operates as an inbound travel company for the Maldives and Sri Lanka (Operating License for Travel Agency, No. MOT.01.RS.TA.25.SC1997, issued by the Maldives Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation), working with individual travellers as well as international travel agencies. For travel-trade partners, the company provides access to contracted accommodation rates, resort and guesthouse recommendations, customised itineraries, reservation assistance, transfer coordination and support for travellers during their stay.
Being based in the Maldives enables the team to provide current destination information and respond directly when assistance is required on the ground. The company's participation in the I AM Maldives CIS Region Roadshow represents the beginning of a longer-term effort to build a reliable network of agency partners in Russia, Kazakhstan and the wider CIS region.
Travel agencies: let's talk Maldives partnerships
If we met at the Moscow, St. Petersburg or Almaty leg of the roadshow, or you're finding us here for the first time, we're keen to connect. Get in touch to discuss resort and guesthouse partnerships, rates, or how we can support your clients' Maldives bookings.
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