Day: October 24, 2024

Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal has requested legal advice from Attorney General Ahmed Usham to terminate agreements for 22 islands leased for resort development due to a complete lack of progress.

Speaking in parliament, Faisal revealed that a total of 58 islands have shown little to no development, with some remaining idle for up to 30 years. The government’s Economic Council has prepared a plan to engage with the entrepreneurs leasing these islands to understand the barriers to progress.

However, Faisal noted that 22 islands have seen no development at all, prompting the need for legal guidance to cancel these agreements and potentially re-lease the islands to more active developers.

In the past, attempts to cancel such agreements have led to legal challenges and compensation claims from lessees. To address this, amendments to the Tourism Act are being proposed and will soon be submitted to the People’s Majlis.

This initiative highlights the government’s dedication to ensuring timely development of leased islands to support the Maldives’ tourism sector and economic growth.

Nearly 290 employees from the Reliance Group have arrived in the Maldives for a holiday, marking a significant return of Indian tourists to the islands.

The group, which arrived on two SriLankan Airlines flights on Thursday, will be staying at the OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi resort.

Mohammed Firag, Managing Director of Inner Maldives, the local agent for SriLankan Airlines, emphasized the importance of this visit. He noted, “This is the first large group from an Indian company to visit the Maldives since the decline in Indian tourist arrivals, which followed tensions between the two countries.” He highlighted that this visit signals a resurgence in the Maldives’ appeal to Indian tourists.

Firag expressed optimism about the recovery of the Indian market after a steep decline in tourist numbers. “This is a clear sign that the Indian market is recovering,” he said, forecasting further growth in the coming year.

Despite a challenging year, overall tourist arrivals in the Maldives have increased by 10% compared to the previous year, exceeding 1.5 million visitors. However, the Indian market, which once led in visitor numbers, has dropped to sixth place, with fewer than 100,000 tourists.

The recent improvement in Maldives-India relations, particularly following President Mohamed Muizzu’s visit to India, has contributed to this positive trend. During the visit, the President took part in tourism promotion activities and engaged with tourism officials, indicating a renewed commitment to strengthening ties between the two nations.

As Reliance Group employees enjoy their holiday, this visit could pave the way for a stronger future for Indian tourism, fostering closer relations and attracting more travelers to the Maldives’ breathtaking landscapes.