A training programme is to be held to introduce a compliance standard for the guesthouse industry, to gain trust and build the confidence of tourists who visit the Maldives.

Minister of Tourism, Dr. Abdulla Mausoom announced this at a press conference on Sunday morning, adding that the training will be conducted jointly with the European Institute for Export Compliance (EIFEC) and Maldives National University (MNU).

Noting the importance of such a programme especially amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the minister said that this is a good opportunity to overcome the obstacles within the industry.

While the European Union (EU) excluded Maldives from the list of countries permitted to travel to the EU following their temporary lifting of restrictions on non-essential travel, the tourism minister said “we need to show Europe the standard of our tourism sector”.

Highlighting that having such international certificates will help boost guests’ confidence in them, Mausoom urged all such businesses to participate in the programme.

While the training programme is open for 830 participants, 630 are to represent guesthouses and 200 spots have been allocated for local councils.

EIFEC said that the compliance officer training programme is one of its “early contributions to Maldives’ efforts as a country combatting the Covid-19 pandemic in a way that would ultimately be beneficial to the Maldivian economy and its people’s livelihood”.

The free-training will be held virtually, and is set to begin on October 20, until November 3.