Naseer: Maldives’ tourism sector needs to be promoted via cartoons

Ihavandhoo MP Ahmed Naseer has underscored the need to change the current techniques utilized to promote Maldives’ tourism industry and utilize cartoons to promote tourism.

He made the remark while debating on the bill to amend the Tourism Act submitted by Dhangathi MP Abdulla Rasheed on behalf of the government during Thursday’s parliamentary sitting.

In this regard, Naseer said participation in international fairs alone is not enough to promote Maldives’ tourism industry and in this trajectory, emphasized the need to change the current techniques utilized in promoting tourism to leverage modern techniques and resources.

He raised the question as to why Maldives cannot be promoted using cartoons while Madagascar promotes its tourism sector this way. Naseer said popularity among children would have a positive impact on Maldives’ tourism industry.

“We have to produce cartoons, honorable speaker. We have to produce Nemo and showcase the beauty of Maldives underwaters via Nemo. We have to shape [promotion of] Maldives’ tourism sector in a manner that is always visible via cartoons,” he said.

Speaking further, Naseer said other modern techniques can also be utilized to promote Maldives’ tourism industry, such as during the World Cup, and in this regard, called for the implementation of this in the next World Cup.

Significant efforts undertaken to promote Maldives’ tourism industry which its economy is dependent on including participation in various international tourism fairs and conducting roadshows at market nations. The government targets to attract two million tourists this year and three million in the year 2026.