The Maldives is being showcased at FITUR 2026, one of the world’s largest international travel exhibitions, which opened in Madrid, Spain, on Tuesday and runs until 25 January.

According to Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC), the participation marks the destination’s first major international tourism promotion of the year, with engagement focused on travel trade networking, market outreach and business development in Spain and Southern Europe.

The Maldives is being represented alongside 25 co-exhibitors at a destination stand featuring visual displays highlighting tourism products and experiences. The stand is designed to present a range of travel segments, including leisure, wellness, family and adventure tourism, as well as seasonal travel offerings.

VMC stated that the exhibition provides an opportunity to engage directly with tour operators, travel agents, airlines, media representatives and other industry stakeholders through scheduled business meetings held throughout the fair. Industry partners are also using the platform to present recent developments and explore collaboration opportunities, including joint marketing initiatives.

FITUR attracts more than 50,000 trade participants and exhibitors annually and serves as a key meeting point for tourism professionals from both inbound and outbound markets. The event also hosts forums and presentations addressing sector-wide issues such as sustainability, emerging travel trends and digital transformation.

Visitor arrival figures indicate continued growth from Spain and Southern Europe. Arrivals from Spain increased from 39,014 in 2024 to 55,489 by the end of 2025, while arrivals from Southern Europe rose from 190,331 to 223,871 over the same period, underscoring the region’s importance as a source market.

VMC noted that participation in FITUR supports efforts to maintain the Maldives’ visibility in European markets and strengthen engagement with travel trade partners across the region.