The Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) is representing the Maldives at Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) held from 24 to 26 November in Doha.
As lead organiser of the Maldives delegation, MATATO is hosting the official Maldives stand, in partnership with the Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) as Official Destination Partner and NHGAM (National Hotels and Guest House Association of Maldives) as Strategic Partner.
This collaboration positions the Maldives as one of the most visible island destinations at a show that now draws 300+ exhibitors from 60 countries and around 12,000 visitors, underscoring QTM’s rapid rise as a leading regional travel marketplace.
According to VMC, the Maldives stand serves as a unified national platform that brings together policy, private sector, and community-based tourism. VMC, as the official destination marketing body, anchors the stand with the national “Maldives” brand and long-term market strategies, while MATATO coordinates and leads the trade delegation, curating business-to-business meetings, networking, and media visibility for Maldivian partners. Meanwhile, NHGAM ensures that guesthouses and local island tourism – a key pillar in the Fifth Tourism Master Plan 2023–2027 – are represented alongside resorts and high-end destination management companies, reflecting the country’s focus on inclusive, community-linked growth. This tripartite model mirrors national tourism policy: diversify markets, strengthen yield, and spread benefits beyond resort islands into inhabited communities.
The Maldives stand at QTM features over ten co-exhibitors, representing a healthy cross-section of the industry. These include leading destination management companies such as Resort Life Travel, Neoscapes Maldives, Pearl Travel Service and others focusing on Qatar and GCC outbound business. Ultra-luxury and lifestyle brands like Ultra Luxury Maldives, curating private jet, villa and yacht experiences tailored to high-net-worth guests from the region, are also featured. Resorts and properties such as Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort, positioned strongly for GCC family and lifestyle travellers, are also promoting their offerings.
Together, these co-exhibitors offer a full spectrum of Maldivian product – from ultra-luxury resort stays and bespoke itineraries, to local-island guesthouse experiences that appeal to younger, experience-driven travellers.