Zaha Travels has completed the second leg of the I AM Maldives CIS Region Roadshow 2026, meeting travel agents and tourism professionals in St. Petersburg on 23 September. More agents turned up to the St. Petersburg event than the team had anticipated, a strong sign for the range of collaboration and partnership opportunities now open to Zaha Travels in this market. Alongside the roadshow itself, the team also took the opportunity to attend a number of sales calls with travel agencies in the city outside the main event.
A stronger turnout than expected in St. Petersburg
According to the Zaha Travels team, the St. Petersburg leg drew a noticeably higher number of travel agents than had been anticipated going in. A bigger room of agents means a wider set of potential collaboration options, more agencies to introduce Zaha Travels' Maldives services to directly, and a broader base from which to start building commercial relationships in this market.
As with the opening day in Moscow, the format gave the team a chance to speak with agents directly, explain what Zaha Travels offers as a Maldives-based travel partner, and start understanding what St. Petersburg agencies and their clients are looking for when booking Maldives holidays.
Beyond the roadshow floor: additional sales calls
Outside the main roadshow event, the Zaha Travels team also attended a number of sales calls with travel agencies in St. Petersburg. These one-on-one meetings complement the roadshow itself, giving the team more direct time with individual agencies than the event floor allows, and another route into the market alongside the formal programme.
Building on Moscow
St. Petersburg follows directly from Zaha Travels' first day at the roadshow in Moscow on 21 September, where the team began introducing its Maldives services to Russian travel agents for the first time. Two cities in, the roadshow is proving to be a practical way to build relationships with agencies the company had not previously worked with, both through the organised event and through direct meetings arranged around it.
Zaha Travels already holds direct contracts with a range of Maldives resorts and guesthouses suited to the accommodation styles commonly requested within the Russian market, from private island resorts to locally operated guesthouses, giving the team a practical portfolio to work from as these new relationships develop.
Next stop: Almaty, Kazakhstan
The roadshow concludes on 25 September in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is a 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. Coming off a stronger-than-expected St. Petersburg turnout, the team heads into Almaty looking to build on the same momentum.
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.
Travel agencies: let's talk Maldives partnerships
If we met at the St. Petersburg leg of the roadshow, or one of the sales calls around it, 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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