A group of journalists from some of Italy's leading lifestyle, travel and fashion publications has completed a familiarisation trip to the Maldives as part of efforts to increase the destination's visibility in one of its key European tourism markets.

The media visit was organised by Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) in collaboration with Italian tour operator Alpitour World under an ongoing joint marketing partnership aimed at generating editorial coverage, digital content and destination-focused media engagement for Italian audiences.

The delegation, selected by Alpitour World, included journalists from Vanity Fair, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Next Gen Magazine and The Wom. During their stay, the group visited Fiyavalhu Resort, Villa Park Sun Island and Villa Nautica, while also exploring the local islands of Dhigurah and Maamigili.

The itinerary included marine activities and cultural experiences designed to provide firsthand exposure to a range of tourism products available in the Maldives. The programme also sought to highlight local island life, community experiences, marine biodiversity and hospitality offerings beyond the country's traditional resort sector.

VMC said the initiative was intended to strengthen the Maldives' long-term visibility in the Italian market through editorial storytelling and media coverage. The corporation also described Italy as one of the Maldives' most important tourism source markets in Europe. According to tourism figures, 70,163 visitors from Italy had arrived in the Maldives as of 10 June. Italy was also among the country's leading tourism markets throughout 2025.

The familiarisation trip forms part of tourism promotion efforts being carried out through partnerships with international tour operators and travel trade partners to maintain the Maldives' presence in key overseas markets and support growth in the European leisure and luxury travel segment.