"Maldives cannot afford to keep tourism industry on a standstill for months"
"We need to come up with post lockdown strategies"
Tourism Minister Ali Waheed participated in the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council’s ‘Tourism Webinar’ on Tuesday
Maldives is among the worst hit island nations economically due to the Covid-19 pandemic and cannot afford to keep the country’s tourism industry on a standstill for months, says Tourism Minister Ali Waheed.
The minister made the statement during the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council’s ‘Tourism Webinar’ on Tuesday.
While the Maldivian economy has depended mainly on tourism for the past 47 years, the ministry stressed that the country is among the worst hit island nations economically due to this crisis and that it cannot keep the industry on a standstill for months.
He highlighted the importance of implementing safety and security measures as well as risk assessments maintaining a balance between economic and health impacts.
The minister also noted that Maldives is preparing to restart the tourism industry in the third quarter, by July, and that the country requires assistance and support from other countries and regions to do this as the it is among “the most vulnerable nations”.
Waheed also highlighted that the country’s financial institutions have come up “with possible scenarios and adaptable measures to overcome the situation” and that as per this “a U curve rebound” that could pick up Maldives’ economy is predicted “from October onwards”.
He also mentioned a drafteda guidelineto restart tourism “with adequate safety measures” in line with WHO guideline and UNWTO recommendations.
Further noting that Maldives’ tourism industry depends on foreign tourists, the minister said that major tourism activities “are focused for the foreign travellers who consider Maldives as their home away from home”.
Minister Waheed also stressed the importance of seizing opportunities and increasing “local commitment” in the tourism industry, in plans to restart the industry.
While the minister spoke on the need to restart tourism activities to rebuild the country’s economy, he also stressed that “humanity and people’s lives are on top of [the government’s] agenda”.
Highlighting that the country is naturally blessed with thousands of islands scattered in the Indian Ocean, Waheed emphasized that authorities are “strategically using [the] geographic and demographics [as an] advantage in combating virus”.
He also stressed that the country cannot open borders “at cost of lives”.
