Delegation headed by Minister Ameen heads to Russia for discussions on strengthening tourism

A high-level Maldivian delegation, led by Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen, has departed for Russia on Sunday for key discussions focused on strengthening bilateral tourism cooperation and enhancing air connectivity between the two countries.

According to a press release by the Ministry, the official visit, which will run from tomorrow until Friday, will include engagements in the Russian capital, Moscow, and St. Petersburg.

The delegation includes senior officials from the Ministry, Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC), Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), and national carrier Maldivian, as well as prominent representatives from the private tourism sector.

The Ministry stated that the multi-sectoral composition of the delegation will enable comprehensive discussions on policy coordination, transport connectivity, and strategic tourism market promotion.

As part of the visit, the delegation will hold meetings with senior Russian government officials to discuss increasing flight capacity and expanding cooperation in the tourism and aviation sectors. High-level meetings are also scheduled with major tour operators, travel trade partners, industry associations, digital platforms, and hospitality companies in Moscow and St. Petersburg. They will also attend two networking events with Russian travel industry representatives and media.

Commenting on the visit, Minister Ameen said Russia remains a steadfast partner of the Maldives and expressed gratitude to all Russian tourists who choose the Maldives as their holiday destination. He added that the visit provides an opportunity to engage with industry partners, maintain strong relations with visitors, and work collaboratively towards preparations for ‘Visit Maldives Year 2027’.

Russia currently ranks as the second-largest source market for Maldivian tourism. According to official statistics, 192,453 Russian tourists had visited the Maldives as of last Wednesday, representing 14.7 percent of total tourist arrivals this year. In 2025, the Maldives recorded a total of 278,761 tourist arrivals from Russia.