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Mahomet Nasheed, Former President of the Maldives and current President of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has said that he did not understand how it could harm the tourism industry of the country as a result of people talking bad about it.

Upon returning from the UN’s Asia Pacific Business Forum held in Sri Lanka last night, Nasheed said, while speaking to reporters, that he did not at all understand why anyone talking could harm the tourism industry.

Nasheed said that what harms tourism is what is done, and that expression of an opinion, saying something, or disclosing information should not.

“I don’t understand at all why some people talking could harm the tourism industry. Something done in a particular place can harm it. Something that happens can harm it. However, we know very clear that expression of an opinion, words uttered by someone or information that is disclosed would not harm tourism”, said Nasheed.

Nasheed said that the Maldives would be negatively affected if there is a lack of “true talks”, deep thinking, free opinions, discussions and debate. He also said that “it is impossible to deny the existence of that which actually is”.

Nasheed said that “statistics would tell why tourists do not come to the Maldives”, and that the claim that someone saying something would harm tourism is a “baseless and ancient tale”.

Members of Parliament representing the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) have repeatedly said that Nasheed’s “politically-charged negative statements about the Maldives has been affecting the tourism industry”.

A few days ago, Jaufar Dawood, PPM member of Parliament representing Ungoofaaru Constituency said, in a session of the People’s Majlis, that Nasheed has been doing a lot of work to get countries to boycott the Maldives in the tourism sector.