The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) has been elected to the United Nations (UN) Tourism Board of Affiliate Members for the 2026-2029 term, marking a historic milestone as the first entity from Maldives tourism to serve on this international board.
MATI was granted Affiliate Membership of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) at the 23rd General Assembly of the UNWTO held on 11 September 2019. MATI has now been elected to one of two regional seats allocated to South Asia on the board of UNWTO affiliate members. MATI will be represented on the board by its Deputy Secretary General Assad Ali.
According to MATI, its election to the board will provide an opportunity to amplify the Maldives’ tourism voice at the global level and to share the Maldives’ tourism experience with the international community.
The Board of the Affiliate Members serves as an advisory body to the UN Tourism Secretary-General, ensuring that the Affiliate Members’ work aligns with UN Tourism’s goals and contributes to its Programme of Work. It consists of 20 elected positions, including 12 regional members from six international regions and eight global members.
The main responsibilities of the Board of UNTO Affiliate Members include making administrative and technical decisions between Plenary sessions, advising the Secretary-General on the Programme of Work and key strategic priorities of the Affiliate Membership, proposing recommendations to enhance the role and impact of Affiliate Members, and carrying out additional tasks assigned by the Plenary or by UN Tourism.