Faisal issues statement after dismissal, no comment on termination details
Faisal said that he had carried out the tasks assigned to him with sincerity, enthusiasm, and to the best of his ability
Former Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal
Ibrahim Faisal, the first Minister of Tourism in President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's Cabinet of Ministers, has released a statement revealing his visions and ideas for the tourism industry as minister.
He took to social media to share the statement on Thursday.
Faisal stated that it was an honor to be included in President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's cabinet when the government was formed on 17 November 2023. He also expressed gratitude to President Muizzu for the opportunity to serve the public until his dismissal on 28 January 2025, describing it as a matter of pride.
In the statement released on 30 January 2025, he did not disclose the reason for his dismissal from the cabinet to any extent. Although most of the public wanted to know the reason for his sudden dismissal, he did not provide any clarification on this matter. With this statement, the public has begun to question why Faisal did not say anything about his dismissal. Some critics also question whether he chose to remain silent due to concerns that his father, Speaker of the People’s Majlis Abdul Raheem Abdulla, might be removed from his position.
Faisal said that he had carried out the tasks assigned to him with sincerity, enthusiasm, and to the best of his ability. He highlighted that he had worked towards achieving tourism goals by considering global tourism trends.
He further stated that the government's target of two million tourists for the past year had been achieved, calling it a historic success. Faisal said he had listened to the tourism industry's voice to bring this joy to Maldivians and that he welcomed public criticism. He added that public criticism was an additional push for him to move forward.
In the statement, Faisal acknowledged the support he received from the president and the ministry staff during his tenure as Tourism Minister. He also mentioned that stakeholders in the industry had been very supportive of him.
Speaking about the future of tourism, Faisal said that Maldivian tourism sector needs to move to another level. He stated that the biggest step Maldivians need to take is to create opportunities for youth, invest, and advance the sector with youth participation.
Similarly, Faisal expressed his desire to observe low-interest loans, increased connectivity, the development of the Tourism Training School planned for Hulhimendhoo, and finding ways to develop and market undeveloped islands.
As tourism is the largest revenue-generating industry for the Maldives, he also said that the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) budget needs to change to between 25-50 million USD. He further emphasized having a medium-term vision for the sector and included details of this.
This includes creating 6,000-8,000 beds in each atoll of the Maldives 15 years from now, establishing scheduled flights with international airports, building cruise marinas in three regions of the Maldives to accommodate cruise liners, diversifying tourism, and making room for medical tourism, sports tourism, and heritage tourism.
He stated in the statement that he will always continue to serve the nation.
