Visit Maldives revives Maldivian Night at ITB Berlin 2026
Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) welcomed tourism partners and industry leaders to the return of the Maldivian Night in Berlin yesterday, marking one of the key highlights of the destination’s presence at ITB Berlin 2026.
Held on 4 March at The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin, the exclusive invitation-only event brought together tour operators, airline partners, travel agents, media representatives and tourism stakeholders to celebrate the Maldives’ partnerships with the European travel trade.
After several years on hold, the revival of Maldivian Night signalled a renewed push by Visit Maldives to strengthen engagement with one of its most important source markets. The evening served as a platform to reconnect with key industry partners and reaffirm collaboration in promoting the Maldives as one of the world’s leading luxury island destinations.
Hosted by Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and Managing Director of Visit Maldives, the gathering showcased Maldivian hospitality, culture and tourism innovation while highlighting the destination’s ongoing growth and global positioning.
We caught up with Ibrahim Shiuree at Tourise in 2025.
The event was co-hosted in partnership with Bank of Maldives (BML) and also provided the stage for the unveiling of BML Swipe, a new digital payment solution designed to improve transaction convenience across the islands and support seamless visitor experiences.
Maldivian Night formed part of Visit Maldives’ broader participation at ITB Berlin 2026, taking place from 3–5 March at Messe Berlin, the world’s largest travel trade show. The Maldives is also presenting a national pavilion under the brand “Maldives… The Sunny Side of Life,” showcasing the diversity of the destination while strengthening business partnerships and market engagement.
Visit Maldives is also preparing to host a high-level international press conference during the event, where a major announcement related to the destination’s tourism strategy is expected as the Maldives builds momentum toward Visit Maldives Year 2027.
Europe continues to play a vital role in the Maldives’ tourism performance. In 2025, Germany recorded 167,822 arrivals, placing it among the destination’s top source markets, while Switzerland and Austria also ranked among the top 15 markets globally.
Through its expanded presence at ITB Berlin 2026, Visit Maldives aims to strengthen strategic alliances, increase global visibility and reinforce the Maldives’ position as a premium, sustainable and forward-looking tourism destination.
Visit Maldives has also received significant international recognition, securing several top honours at the 2025 World Travel Awards. The destination was named World’s Leading Destination 2025 and World’s Leading Green Destination 2025, highlighting both its global appeal and its commitment to sustainable tourism. In addition, the Maldives was recognised as Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2025 and Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination 2025, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world. Spread across 1,192 islands in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is globally known for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear lagoons and vibrant marine ecosystems, which support world-class diving, wellness and luxury resort experiences under the destination brand “Maldives… The Sunny Side of Life.”
These awards also reflect the country’s strong commitment to environmental stewardship, with many resorts and tourism initiatives actively supporting marine conservation, coral restoration and sustainable tourism practices that help protect the fragile island ecosystem while enhancing visitor experiences.