The Maldives president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has officially initiated the framework for compiling the fifth tourism master plan for the country.
Held at Dharubaaruge on 29 July, the master plan will focus on significant tourism industry developments from 2020 spanning to 2025.
President Solih stressed on the fruitful improvement the country has taken towards development and economic strengthening, following the decision made by public elect his cabinet for governance.
In his speech, president Solih noted a total of 28 foreign investment opportunities had approached to Maldives since the beginning of the current administration to this date. He also added that from the 28 opportunities, Maldives government will be ‘green lighting’ 23 investment projects.
Furthermore, president Solih revealed 17 foreign investment projects have already been registered in Maldives. With this regard, he emphasized that a total of 13 global countries have already invested in the island nation on various projects.
While asserting that the Maldivian tourism industry has been booming and garnering a strong recognition and support in the international market, president Solih noted the continued effort and vision of tourism pioneers who have been behind the success of the country’s biggest economic sector.
The five-year master plan will focus on seeking the challenges and complaints in the tourism industry, in order to address and counter them effectively. Moreover, the new master plan will also give priority towards recruiting qualified personnel while paralleling the growth of skilled workers through training and education.
Under the master plan, a specific authority will be enacted which will hold the responsibility of accepting, lodging and inspecting complaints and issues raised by tourism industry personnel.
The fifth tourism master plan also dives deep towards tourism sustainability, focusing on key segments which will fortify a growing and sustained economic sector.
To achieve this, the current government aims to give prime focus towards the employees in tourism industry in order to gain their insight and take their concerns on a more serious note.
President Solih bemoaned that the main issue faced by most tourism industry employees is the wage difference between locals and foreigners as well as lack of opportunity for locals to apply for senior designations.
The current government’s emphasis on improving the wages or salaries for tourism industry personnel was made evident once again on Monday evening when president Solih stressed on their vision to achieve this through the new master plan.
The Maldives president also spoke on the importance of tying the country’s culture and heritage to the tourism industry more strongly in order to strengthen an even more unique tourism identity.
The fifth tourism master plan’s framework will pave way towards the final vision which will become effective from 2020.
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