Zaha Travels has completed the final destination of the I AM Maldives CIS Region Roadshow 2026, concluding the three-city programme in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 25 September. After earlier events and travel-trade meetings in Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Almaty roadshow brought Zaha Travels into direct conversation with travel professionals serving Kazakhstan and opened a new stage in the company's development across the CIS and Central Asian markets.
The completion of the Almaty event marks more than the end of an international roadshow. For Zaha Travels, it represents the beginning of structured follow-up with the travel agents and industry partners met across all three destinations, supported by Maldives-based destination knowledge, contracted resort and guesthouse options, customised itinerary planning and assistance for travellers throughout their journey.
Zaha Travels completes the Almaty Maldives roadshow
The Almaty event was held on 25 September as the third and final destination of the I AM Maldives CIS Region Roadshow 2026. It created a dedicated setting for Maldivian tourism companies to meet Kazakhstan travel agents, tour operators and other travel-trade professionals interested in the Maldives.
For Zaha Travels, participating in Almaty provided an opportunity to introduce the company as a Maldives-based destination management partner and to better understand how agencies in Kazakhstan approach Maldives enquiries. Direct meetings allow travel businesses to discuss more than room rates. They create space to explore traveller preferences, suitable resort categories, local-island guesthouse options, meal plans, transfers, family requirements, honeymoon arrangements and the level of support agents expect from a partner based in the destination.
These conversations matter because a successful Maldives booking often involves several connected decisions. The right island must suit the traveller's budget and holiday purpose. International flight timings must work with domestic flights, seaplanes or speedboat transfers. Meal plans, room occupancy rules and seasonal offers need to be compared carefully. A knowledgeable Maldives travel partner can help agencies handle those details more confidently.
The significance of Almaty: Zaha Travels has now completed direct travel-trade engagement in all three roadshow cities and can move from introductions to practical follow-up with agencies across Russia and Kazakhstan.
From Moscow to St. Petersburg and Almaty
The roadshow began in Moscow on 21 September, continued to St. Petersburg on 23 September and concluded in Almaty on 25 September. Each city contributed a different layer to Zaha Travels' market-development programme.
In Moscow, the team began introducing Zaha Travels to Russian travel agents and discussing the accommodation and destination support available for their clients. Read the first report: Zaha Travels Begins Russian Market Expansion at I AM Maldives CIS Roadshow 2026.
St. Petersburg built on that start with a stronger-than-anticipated turnout and additional sales calls outside the main event. Read the second report: Zaha Travels Marks a Strong Second Day in St. Petersburg at I AM Maldives CIS Roadshow 2026.
Almaty extended the same relationship-building approach into Kazakhstan, an increasingly relevant Maldives source market. Together, the three stages have given Zaha Travels a wider network of trade contacts and a clearer basis for developing services for agencies across the region.
Why Kazakhstan matters for Maldives tourism
Kazakhstan is an important developing market for the Maldives. According to Visit Maldives, Kazakhstan ranked 11th among the Maldives' tourism source markets as of June 2026, recording 18,602 arrivals and a 1.8% share of total visitor arrivals.
Those figures show that demand already exists, while the market still offers room for further development. Improved destination awareness, stronger cooperation with Kazakhstan travel agencies and convenient air access can help more travellers consider the Maldives for honeymoons, family holidays, celebrations and premium beach escapes.
Air Astana markets Almaty to Malé services, giving travellers a route to search and plan around during operating periods. Flight schedules are seasonal and can change, so travellers and agencies should always confirm availability for the intended dates before finalising accommodation and resort transfers.
The Maldives also offers a wide range of experiences beyond a single type of luxury holiday. Travellers can choose private-island resorts, locally operated guesthouses, beach villas, overwater villas, family-focused islands, adults-only retreats, diving holidays and combinations of more than one island. This variety creates opportunities for Kazakhstan travel agents to serve different budgets and traveller profiles.
A Maldives travel partner for Kazakhstan travel agencies
For a travel agency in Almaty or elsewhere in Kazakhstan, working with a destination partner can simplify the parts of a Maldives booking that are difficult to compare from outside the country. Zaha Travels operates from the Maldives and works with international agencies as well as individual travellers.
Support for travel-trade partners can include:
Resort and guesthouse selection
Recommendations based on budget, traveller profile, island style, room category, meal plan and preferred experiences.
Contracted accommodation options
Access to a broad portfolio of Maldives resorts and guesthouses, with additional properties handled on request when needed.
Tailored Maldives itineraries
Single-island stays, resort and local-island combinations, split stays and special-occasion planning.
Transfer coordination
Guidance and booking support for speedboats, seaplanes and domestic flight connections between Malé and the selected island.
Responsive reservation support
Clear information on offers, inclusions, room occupancy, meal plans, payment conditions and booking requirements.
On-the-ground assistance
Local support in the Maldives when travellers or agency partners require help during the journey.
Zaha Travels will use the contacts and market knowledge gained in Almaty to refine the options shared with Kazakhstan travel partners. The priority is to recommend properties that genuinely match each enquiry, rather than repeatedly presenting the same resorts regardless of budget or holiday purpose.
Planning a Maldives holiday from Kazakhstan
Travellers searching for an Almaty to Maldives holiday will usually need to coordinate three main components: the international flight to Velana International Airport near Malé, the selected accommodation and the onward transfer to the island. Resort transfers may operate by speedboat, seaplane or domestic flight followed by speedboat, depending on the property's location.
The international arrival time can affect the same-day transfer. Seaplanes generally operate during daylight hours, while some domestic flights and speedboat services follow fixed schedules. This is one reason to select flights and accommodation together rather than treating them as separate decisions.
Maldives Immigration grants tourist visas on arrival, subject to travellers meeting the official entry requirements. Visitors should have an eligible passport, confirmed return travel, prepaid accommodation at a registered facility and sufficient funds for the stay. Every traveller must also submit the free Traveller Declaration through the official IMUGA portal within 96 hours before arrival. Entry requirements can change, so travellers should check the Maldives Immigration website before departure.
A Maldives travel specialist can also help compare details that are not always obvious from headline prices, including compulsory transfers, taxes, meal-plan inclusions, child policies, villa locations, seasonal weather patterns and the cost of upgrading from a beach villa to an overwater villa.
About the I AM Maldives CIS Region Roadshow 2026
The I AM Maldives CIS Region Roadshow 2026 was 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 programme took a delegation of 25 Maldivian tourism companies and more than 50 participants to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Almaty. The delegation represented resorts, hotels, guesthouses, liveaboards and travel agencies. More than 180 travel-trade professionals were expected to attend across the three destinations.
By presenting a broad cross-section of the Maldives tourism industry, the roadshow helped international agents see that the destination offers more than one style of travel. Alongside internationally recognised resorts, the Maldives has locally operated guesthouses, liveaboards, diving experiences and multi-island itineraries that can appeal to different market segments.
The roadshow has ended, but the market work begins now
Trade events create introductions, but long-term credibility is built through what happens afterwards. Zaha Travels' next stage will focus on reconnecting with the agencies met in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Almaty, understanding the enquiries they receive and providing relevant products, clear communication and reliable service.
The company will continue strengthening its selection of resorts, guesthouses and offers for Russian and Kazakhstan travellers. It will also use feedback from the roadshow to improve the information and support provided to agency partners, including accommodation comparisons, transfer guidance and tailored recommendations.
Zaha Travels is a licensed inbound travel company for the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Its Operating Licence for Travel Agency, No. MOT.01.RS.TA.25.SC1997, is issued by the Maldives Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. The company supports both international travel agencies and individual travellers with destination planning, reservations and assistance from within the Maldives.
Frequently asked questions
Did Zaha Travels participate in the I AM Maldives Roadshow in Almaty?
Yes. Zaha Travels participated in the Almaty event on 25 September 2026, completing all three destinations of the I AM Maldives CIS Region Roadshow after Moscow and St. Petersburg.
What was the I AM Maldives CIS Region Roadshow 2026?
It was a three-city travel-trade programme held in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Almaty. It brought Maldivian resorts, guesthouses, hotels, liveaboards and travel companies together with agents and tour operators in Russia and Kazakhstan.
Can Kazakhstan travel agents work with Zaha Travels for Maldives bookings?
Yes. Zaha Travels works with international travel agencies and can assist with resort and guesthouse options, tailored itineraries, reservations, transfers and on-the-ground support in the Maldives.
Can Zaha Travels help travellers book a Maldives holiday from Almaty?
Yes. Travellers can request recommendations based on their dates, budget, number of guests and preferred experience. Zaha Travels can coordinate accommodation and Maldives transfers, while international flight schedules should be confirmed for the selected travel dates.
Do travellers from Kazakhstan need a pre-approved tourist visa for the Maldives?
Maldives Immigration grants tourist visas on arrival, subject to the traveller meeting the official entry requirements. Travellers should confirm the latest rules directly with Maldives Immigration before departure and complete the free Traveller Declaration through the official IMUGA portal within 96 hours before arrival.
What types of Maldives accommodation can Zaha Travels arrange?
Zaha Travels can assist with private-island resorts and local-island guesthouses across different budgets and holiday styles. Options can include beach villas, overwater villas, family resorts, adults-only properties, honeymoon stays and split-island itineraries.
Travel agencies in Kazakhstan: connect with Zaha Travels
If you met our team in Almaty, or you are looking for a Maldives-based partner for your clients, we would be pleased to continue the conversation. Contact us to discuss resort and guesthouse options, rates, tailored itineraries and destination support.
Discuss a travel-trade partnership → Plan a Maldives holiday →