The Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC), in partnership with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), has announced a high-level webinar aimed at addressing mounting challenges facing the global tourism industry.
Titled “The Conflict Playbook for Travel – Adapt, Pivot, Lead (Maldives Edition)”, the session is scheduled for Thursday, 9 April 2026 at 1300Hrs. It comes at a time when escalating tensions in the Middle East are increasingly disrupting international travel patterns.
The ongoing conflict has extended its impact far beyond the region, affecting aviation routes, driving up fuel costs, and influencing traveller behaviour worldwide. Key air corridors across the Middle East have been subject to restrictions, forcing airlines to reroute flights and lengthen journey times. At the same time, jet fuel prices have risen sharply, by as much as 50 to 60 percent placing further strain on the sector. According to estimates from the World Travel & Tourism Council, the disruption is costing the global tourism economy approximately 600 million US dollars per day in lost visitor spending.
For the Maldives, whose economy is heavily reliant on international air travel, the stakes are particularly high. The webinar forms part of a broader effort by VMC to mitigate risks and sustain demand during a period of heightened uncertainty.
The session will open with remarks from PATA’s Chief Executive, Noor Ahmad Hamid, followed by a keynote address from Abdulla Ghiyas, Chairperson of VMC. He is expected to outline the national perspective, including the immediate implications for Maldivian tourism and the government’s strategic response. Industry specialists will then provide detailed analysis and practical guidance. Michael Shoory, Head of Asia-Pacific Tourism Analysis at Tourism Economics, will examine emerging data and shifting demand patterns. Sarah Mathews, Chief Executive of E-Tourism Frontiers, is set to discuss how destinations can identify resilient alternative markets, while the firm’s Director of Marketing, Elizabeth Cook, will focus on crisis communications and safeguarding destination reputation. The webinar will conclude with a live question-and-answer session, moderated by PATA’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Paul Pruangkarn, offering participants an opportunity to engage directly with the panel.
VMC has invited tourism stakeholders and industry partners to attend, positioning the event as a timely forum for sharing strategies to navigate a rapidly changing global travel landscape.