October 23, 2025 – The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) has been elected to the UN Tourism Board of Affiliate Members for the 2026-2029 term, marking a historic milestone as the first entity from Maldives tourism to serve on this international board.

MATI secured one of two regional seats allocated to South Asia in the election, a  testament to the Maldives’ prominence in the South Asian tourism landscape. The association will be represented on the board by Mr. Asad Ali, Deputy Secretary General of MATI.

The Board of Affiliate Members serves as an advisory body to the UN Tourism Secretary-General and plays a role in aligning member organizations with the goals, mission, and general programme of work of UN Tourism. Comprising 20 elected positions – including 12 Regional Members from six global regions and 8 Global Members – the Board is tasked with making administrative and technical decisions between plenary sessions and providing strategic recommendations on the programme of work and annual objectives for Affiliate Membership. The Board’s main functions also include providing recommendations to the Secretary-General on the Affiliate Members’ Programme of Work, advising on strategic matters related to Affiliate Membership, and carrying out tasks entrusted by the Plenary or Committee.

Mr. Ali will attend the Board’s first meeting on November 11, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the 26th General Assembly of UN Tourism, where discussions on global tourism development and cooperation will take

MATI was granted Affiliate Membership of the UN Tourism by the 23rd UNWTO General Assembly on September 11, 2019, becoming the first organisation from the Maldives to achieve this status

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