New agency established to promote Maldivian tourism

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has established a new agency to promote the tourism industry of Maldives – Maldives Tourism Promotion Board Limited.

The presidential decree published this Thursday reads that Maldives Tourism Promotion Board Limited was established to promote Maldives in the international market as a tourist destination, market Maldivian tourism industry, and monitor and strengthen the industry.

The capital investment for Maldives Tourism Promotion Board is MVR 1 billion (100 million shares at the rate of MVR 10).

The country already has an agency to promote its tourism industry – the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).

MMPRC was founded during former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration in replacement of Tourism Promotion Board.

MMPRC is currently in the middle of the biggest embezzlement scandal to hit Maldives in recent history.

Both the former Vice President and Minister of Tourism Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor and former

Managing Director of MMPRC, Abdulla Ziyath have been prosecuted over the scam.

The scandal has hit the international media, creating negative publicity for the corporation.