MATI Appoints Champa Afeef as Chairman

The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) has appointed veteran tourism industry leader Hussain Afeef, widely known as Champa Afeef, as its Chairman, marking a significant leadership transition within the country’s principal tourism body.

The position had been held by Mohamed Umar Manik since MATI’s establishment in 1982. Manik, a founding figure of the Maldivian tourism sector, passed away last year after decades of leadership and industry stewardship.

Afeef’s appointment was confirmed by MATI’s members at the association’s Annual General Meeting held at Kurumba Maldives.

Afeef is widely recognised as a pioneering force in the Maldives’ tourism industry. With extensive operational and investment experience, he played a critical role in the early development of resort infrastructure and continues to maintain a strong presence in the sector. He is a co-founder of Crown Company and a shareholder in KASA Holdings, with a diversified portfolio of interests across multiple tourism properties.

Established in 1982, MATI is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation mandated to support the strategic development and long-term sustainability of the Maldives’ tourism industry. Over the past four decades, the association has served as a key industry representative, actively engaging in policy dialogue and sector-wide advocacy.

A core function of MATI is its ongoing collaboration with government and regulatory authorities to ensure that legislative frameworks, regulatory policies and industry guidelines are aligned with international best practices and evolving market standards.