Emirates Group’s Horizon: Maldives Event Set to Strengthen Tourism Partnerships Following Record Growth

(IN SHORT) Horizon: Maldives returns as dnata Travel Group and Emirates Holidays report a 30% year-on-year increase in bookings for 2024. The event, scheduled for June 10, 2025, at Kurumba resort, will focus on sustaining the Maldives’ growing tourism momentum, fostering deeper ties between the Emirates Group and the local hospitality sector, and exploring new traveler behaviors and market segments.

(PRESS RELEASE) DUBAI, UAE, 2025-Jun-5 — /Travel PR News/ — dnata Travel Group and Emirates Holidays, both part of the Emirates Group, are excited to announce the return of Horizon: Maldives, a high-level industry gathering set to take place at the Kurumba resort on June 10, 2025. This prestigious event underscores the Emirates Group’s ongoing commitment to the Maldives, one of its fastest-growing global destinations.

Record-Breaking Tourism Growth in the Maldives

Horizon: Maldives comes on the heels of a historic year for Maldivian tourism, as the country welcomed over 2 million international visitors in 2024 — the highest number in its history. This marks a 9% increase over 2023, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Already, by April 2025, the Maldives had received over 693,000 tourists, showing a 5.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024. The ministry projects that arrivals will reach 2.2 million by the end of 2025.

Strengthening Partnerships in the Indian Ocean

The goal of Horizon: Maldives is to deepen collaboration between the Emirates Group’s brands and the local hospitality sector. The event will focus on sustaining the Maldives’ tourism momentum, addressing shifting traveler behaviors, exploring emerging source markets, and identifying new visitor segments.

“We are excited to host the second Horizon event in the Maldives, a destination that has transitioned from a niche luxury location to one of the most sought-after global paradises,” said John Bevan, Chief Executive Officer of dnata Travel Group. “The Maldives has seen consistent and significant growth in traveler demand across all our global brands. This event is a celebration of that success and further affirms our long-term commitment to the destination. Through marketing investments, destination alignment, and close partnerships with local stakeholders, we aim to continue supporting the Maldives’ tourism goals.”

Continued Growth for the Maldives

The Emirates Group’s commitment to the Maldives is evident in the numbers. In 2024, dnata Travel Group and Emirates Holidays contributed to a 30% year-on-year increase in annual passenger volumes to the destination, with a similar growth trajectory anticipated in 2025. The Group’s outreach has also significantly diversified the Maldives’ source markets, now attracting visitors from over 100 countries.

To strengthen its presence, dnata Travel Group introduced the Maldives as a new destination for three of its brands — Arabian Adventures, Imagine Cruising, and Netflights — expanding its international passenger base. Additionally, dnata Travel has collaborated with the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) to enhance the Maldives’ visibility across the GCC through a targeted joint campaign highlighting the country’s natural beauty and unique experiences. Similar initiatives are being rolled out in the UK via dnata’s Travelbag brand.

Collaborating for Long-Term Growth

Emirates and MMPRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly promote inbound tourism to the Maldives, with Emirates Holidays playing a pivotal role. Over the last year, Emirates Holidays has organized more than 20 trade familiarisation trips, supported by joint campaigns with local hotel partners in the Maldives. These initiatives include trade roadshows, workshops, mall activations, and radio campaigns.

“We will continue to explore similar joint marketing initiatives across our brands,” said Bevan. “Our goal is to work alongside destination partners like the Maldives to deliver sustainable, long-term growth through targeted campaigns that resonate with specific markets.”

About Horizon: Maldives 2025

The Horizon: Maldives 2025 event will be attended by dnata Travel Group leadership, representatives from Emirates Airline, beverage distributor MMI, and key industry partners including resort owners, hotel general managers, and government officials. This marks the second Horizon event in the Maldives and the fourth in the Indian Ocean region, following successful events in Mauritius and Sri Lanka.

Media contact:

dnata Public Relations
public.relations@dnata.com

SOURCE: dnata