Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC / Visit Maldives) promotes the Maldives at USTOA Annual Conference and Marketplace 2022. The event took place from November 28 to December 2, 2022 at the JW Marriott Austin in Austin, Texas, United States. During the event, MMPRC had opportunities to meet some of America's most respected and renowned tour operators.

Since its inception in 1972, the USTOA Annual Conference & Marketplace has distinguished itself for being the only travel industry event in the US that brings together leading North American travel companies, tourism suppliers and global destinations in an intimate and exclusive setting. Visit Maldives was represented at the event by PR agency representatives for the region. MMPRC's objective in participating in this event was to market the Maldives as the preferred holiday destination, provide the latest destination information, and promote the various segments, products, and experiences of the Maldives tourism industry.

This event provided a unique business-casual atmosphere for a small select group of 700 travel professionals and networking opportunities throughout the conference to make new contacts and conduct business. It enables connection and network with stakeholders of the industry from the market and through that, inform travellers of the latest information about the destination. These stakeholders range from other tourism destinations, service providers, PR companies, buyers and sellers, and a diverse range of trade professionals. During this event, invaluable insight into the North American travel market was gained. Latest factors and trends affecting the industry and travellers across the globe were also identified through exciting seminars, symposiums, and expert panel discussions.

It is an indication of the Maldives’ strong presence and demand in the US market that despite the long distance, the US market remains one of the top source markets for the Maldives. As of December 1, 2022, the Maldives has welcomed 71,757 tourists from the US, making it the 6th top source market for tourism. On August 12, the Maldives achieved the one millionth tourist arrival mark for this year.

MMPRC has held several activities targeting this market this year, including hosting Maldives Roadshows in different cities the US and Canada. These activities further include taking part in ATTA’s AdventureELEVATE 2022 and conducting a travel trade webinar, as well as organising familiarisation trips with media and influencers. Campaigns with leading tourism companies such as Worth Magazine, Goway, and SQ were also conducted.