MATI honors 57 exceptional contributors to the Maldivian tourism industry

Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), on Sunday, held the ’50 Years of Tourism Awards by MATI’ – presenting awards to organizations and individuals that have exceptionally contributed to the Maldivian tourism industry over the past 50 years.

The event held at Kurumba Maldives on Sunday evening was officiated by the first couple; President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed.

During the ceremony, 57 awards were presented to winners selected by a committee of industry experts and veterans that comprehensively vetted and evaluated all nominations received.

Out of the 57 awards - four were presented to pioneers of Maldivian tourism and two to former presidents in recognition of their contribution to the Maldivian tourism industry.

The four pioneers of Maldivian tourism that received the awards were Universal Group and MATI’s Chairman Mohamed Umar Manik, Champa’s Chairman and MATI’s Vice Chairman Hussain Afeef, Health Minister Ahmed Naseem and George Corbin.

The two former presidents that received the awards were Late Ibrahim Nasir and Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom.

Remaining awards were swept by prominent organizations and individuals in the Maldivian tourism industry including Sun Siyam Group’s Chairman, Managing Director Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, Villa Group’s Chairman Qasim Ibrahim and former Vice President Mohamed Waheed Deen.

’50 Years of Tourism Awards by MATI’ was held by MATI as part of different events planned throughout the year in celebration of the golden jubilee of Maldives tourism.

Previous notable events held under the initiative included the release of two coffee table books and executing a partnership agreement with Parley Maldives to tackle plastic pollution and promote environmental conservation.