The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is committed to help and support the Maldives in the development of sustainable means of tourism, says UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili.

UNWTO SG Pololikashvili, who paid a courtesy call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Monday, applauded the government’s positive strides in the progress of the country’s tourism industry, which was on a downward spiral following the closure of borders on 27 March 2020. However, he noted that Maldives reopened its borders to the world amid the Covid-19 pandemic, at a fast pace.

The UNWTO SG asserted that Maldives is a small country with a “huge” potential in developing sustainable models of tourism.

He added that the UNWTO attaches utmost importance on the promotion of sustainability within the tourism sector.

During the call, the UNWTO SG also briefed the Maldivian president on view to collaboratively work towards the development of Maldives tourism sector.

The paid also engaged in conversation on many areas of shared interest regarding tourism development and went on to agree on close collaboration in the future.

The meeting was joined by Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, Minister of Tourism and Ibrahim Hood, Secretary of Foreign Relations at the President’s Office.

With tourist arrivals figure crossing the 900,000-mark by Saturday, Maldives is inching closer to its tourist arrivals target for the ongoing year. The country is gearing up to mark 50 years since the tourism industry’s inception, in 2022, which is to be celebrated as the golden year of tourism in Maldives.