Government decides not to license foreigners for photography

Government has decided not to issue license for foreigners to work in the field of photography.

Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed on Monday said to Sun Online that Maldivian photographers’ concerns will be resolved and authorization for foreigners to work in the field of photography will not be issued. He noted that photography will be considered as small and midsized business in future.

“We will not issue quota for photography from now” said Minister Saeed.

Saeed said that the license issued to work in the field of photography will be reviewed very soon and a decision will be made in a near future.

Local photographers have said that foreign photographers were the biggest challenge for them while government has said that they have started to identify the challenges faced to local photographers

Mohamed Shafi, President of Photo Council has said that many foreign photographers work illegally in resorts of Maldives by making companies and because of that more than 1,500 local photographers have almost lost the opportunity to work in the field.

Shafi said that while more than 28 foreign photographers work in 14 resorts, more than 20 foreign photographers live in Hulhumale’ flats and earn from photography.