Dr. Abdulla Mausoom has said that the tourism ministry has refused to disclose the names of islands that have been leased.

Dr. Mausoom of Jumhooree Party (JP) said this in a press conference held by transition sub-committee heads on Wednesday.

At the press conference, Dr. Mausoom said that the tourism ministry only gave them information the ministry wanted.

He said that while around 300 islands have been leased to various parties, the tourism ministry has refused to give details.

Noting that the ministry’s ‘fourth tourism master plan’ has expired, Dr. Mausoom said that no funds have been allocated for a fifth master plan in the proposed state budget for next year.

He also said that a new firm has not been established to develop the Maldives tourism industry after the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation’s embezzlement scandal set it back.

Dr. Mausoom also said that the ministry does not have a written plan on their regional airports and highlighted that the Kulhufhuffushi Airport was opened without being fully developed.

He said that the new tourism minister would have to allow an audit of the ministry.