The Maldives is participating in SATTE 2026, South Asia’s largest travel and tourism trade exhibition, with Visit Maldives unveiling an “Ocean Nation” pavilion at the three-day event being held in New Delhi, India, from 25 to 27 February.

The fair, hosted at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in Dwarka, brings together more than 2,100 exhibitors representing over 50 countries. Industry stakeholders said the exhibition provides a key platform for destinations and tourism businesses to engage directly with global markets and establish new commercial partnerships, particularly within South Asia’s growing travel sector.

Visit Maldives is joined at the exhibition by 22 co-exhibitors from the Maldivian tourism industry, including resort operators and travel sector partners. The delegation is engaging both trade and consumer audiences to strengthen the Maldives’ market presence in India and the wider region.

India remains one of the Maldives’ leading tourism source markets, with official figures showing 130,805 Indian arrivals in 2024 and 131,625 arrivals in 2025. Tourism officials said engagement at SATTE is aimed at sustaining cooperation with tour operators, travel agencies, airlines and online booking platforms, while facilitating new partnerships and joint promotional initiatives.

Visitors to the Maldives pavilion are being offered opportunities for direct business meetings with tourism industry representatives, access to destination information and promotional material, and digital content showcasing tourism experiences. Organisers have also introduced a trade survey at the stand to gather feedback on market trends and traveller preferences, with participants entered into a prize draw. A dedicated photo area has also been set up to encourage visitor engagement.

Cultural elements have been incorporated into the pavilion’s design, including the distribution of whale shark-themed bookmarks personalised with visitors’ names in Dhivehi, reflecting the Maldives’ marine heritage and national branding as an “Ocean Nation”.

Participation at SATTE 2026 forms part of Visit Maldives’ marketing programme targeting the Indian market this year. Planned initiatives include media familiarisation trips, a celebrity-hosted visit involving five public figures, collaborative activities with the Maldivian High Commission, television advertising, joint promotional campaigns with airline partners, digital marketing initiatives targeting both trade and consumers, a multi-city roadshow across major Indian cities, and outdoor advertising.