Male, Maldives (CU)_ Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih lauded the pioneers of tourism in the Maldives for their hard work and perseverance in improving the sector. During the Golden Jubilee Award Ceremony hosted by the Maldives Association of the Tourism Industry (MATI) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of tourism in the Maldives, President Solih emphasized the progressing tourism of the island and appreciated the pioneers of the industry.
The President noted during the event that the Maldives’ current position at the forefront of global tourism markets is due to the tenacity and diligence of the industry’s pioneers. President Solih also commended the achievement of the tourism sector’s pioneers, who defeated countless obstacles to shape the sector into what it is today, as well as those who actively engaged in achieving these objectives. He highlighted the government’s desire to contribute to the development of the tourism industry by listening to its stakeholders.
In addition, the President emphasized the multiple obstacles experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and disclosed that MATI was one of the first organizations he met following the news of the pandemic. The President also highlighted the difficulties encountered during the growth of the tourism sector and stated that the government was actively involved in boosting the capacity of Velana International Airport (VIA) to balance with the industry’s expansion. According to him, the completion of the VIA passenger terminal, which is presently under construction, is expected to raise the terminal’s capacity to 7.2 million passengers annually. He also added that the development of additional airports in the atolls will support the expansion of the tourism industry.
During the occasion, President Solih honored the industry pioneers and individuals, who have contributed to the sector’s growth, with awards. He also expressed gratitude to the industry pioneers who are still engaged in the growth of the Maldives’ tourism industry. The First Lady, Fazna Ahmed, also joined the President during the occasion. The Golden Jubilee Award Ceremony was hosted by the MATI and was held at the first resort of the Maldives, the Kurumba Maldives Resort.
