The Maldives has reaffirmed its position as South Asia’s tourism powerhouse, sweeping an impressive 36 honours at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2025. The prestigious ceremony, held on 20 September at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo, recognised the Maldives for its outstanding performance across multiple tourism categories.
The highlight of the evening was the coveted Visitors’ Choice Award for Leading Adventure Destination – a major achievement for Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) as it seeks to diversify the nation’s tourism offering beyond its traditional luxury and leisure image. The country also took home 16 Gold Awards and 19 Silver Awards, showcasing excellence across the region’s most competitive categories.
VMC CEO and MD, Ibrahim Shiuree, represented the Maldives at the SATA Connect & Conversation panel discussion, which focused on “Collective Efforts in Tourism.” Speaking alongside leading regional tourism experts, Mr Shiuree underscored the Maldives’ commitment to sustainable and inclusive tourism.
He highlighted that guesthouses now account for approximately 24% of the nation’s total bed capacity, welcoming over 300,000 visitors so far in 2025. He also outlined community empowerment initiatives, including sourcing local produce and handicrafts, providing training opportunities for youth and women, and promoting authentic Maldivian cultural experiences.
“Tourism growth must be inclusive, sustainable, and regionally connected, ensuring local communities and South Asia as a whole benefit from shared success,” said Mr Shiuree.
He further announced a new MoU with Malaysia for joint marketing and eco-tourism initiatives, as well as the development of twin-country packages with Sri Lanka and India. Efforts are also underway to enhance regional air connectivity, thereby strengthening South Asia as a unified tourism hub.
Industry analysts say the Maldives’ performance at SATA 2025 highlights its ability to balance luxury tourism with local island development, cementing its status as the region’s leading destination for both leisure and adventure.
