The government will allocate at least MVR 100 million to promoting tourist venue operators in the Maldives, Tourism Minister Moosa Zameer has said.

Zameer said this while speaking at the ‘Welcome 2018’, a New Year’s Eve show held together with the Maldives Integrated Tourism Development Corporation and aimed also at promoting local tourism, on Sunday night.

The minister also said in his speech that there will be similar events held, Sunday night's show featured musical performances from international singers and local artists, in the future to promote opportunities in the Maldives for investment and trade.

He then said that tourist arrivals in into the country are estimated to significantly increase with the ongoing project to expand the Velanaa International Airport.

Zameer highlighted than the amount of tourist arrivals into the country had increased by seven percent between 2016 and 2017.