The number of expatriates employed in the tourism industry far exceeds the number of locals, stated Minister Ali Waheed at the gala night held on World Tourism Day. He further noted 58 resorts currently have a local employment rate under 45%.
In his speech at the gala night, the minister gave further information about facilities for tourists, increasing service charges, and on-going safety inspections. He stated more than 1000 facilities have already been inspected.
While there is no conclusive number for the total number of people employed in the industry, the inspections revealed the total number of people employed in tourism comes up to 36,301 (thirty-six thousand three hundred and one) people, said the minister.
He pointed out the surpassing number of expatriates to locals, explaining the total number of 36,301 (thirty-six thousand three hundred and one) consists of 18،947 (eighteen thousand nine hundred and seven) expatriates and 17،138 (seventeen thousand, one hundred and eighteen) locals.
The minister stated employees in the tourism industry receive a service charge between two-hundred dollars and five-hundred dollars.
He claimed that the tourism ministry had only 1.6 million in its trust fund at the time the new administration came into power.
“I would like to announce the president’s office, attorney general’s office, economic ministry, finance ministry, and other relevant ministries have been working hard together to divert the course of the country away from certain financial ruin, brought about from wasted funds by the previous administration on things such as a picnic island and mansions, made evident by only 1.6 million remaining in the tourism industry’s trust fund at the end of the last administrations term. However, that number has now changed under the current administration and the tourism ministry currently has 17 million for CSR initiatives in its trust fund.”Ali Waheed - Tourism Minister
World Tourism Day was celebrated extensively by the tourism ministry, with a canoe race held in Vaavu atoll and a cultural night held at V. Keyodhoo
Moreover, a world record was set for freediving with 521 participants at a lagoon nearby Baros Maldives Resort. The foundation for a tourist visitor center was also laid out at R. Angolhitheem with a Q&A session for students at an open day.
Minister Ali Waheed proclaimed the large-scale celebration of World Tourism Day by the Maldives was a sort of “Eid” bringing worldwide attention to the Maldives.
