Mausoom: No benefit despite increase in tourist arrivals; numbers do not amount to success

Former Tourism Minister Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, underscoring there are no benefits despite the increase in the number of tourist arrivals to the Maldives, states the number of arrivals recorded does not amount to access.

Speaking at SSTV’s ‘Baaru Hathareh’ program on Thursday night, Mausoom described tourism as an industry of happiness and peace. 

He underscored a relative drop in the rate of growth of tourism revenue despite Maldives being at the end of praise from the rest of the world for its fast-growing tourism sector as the nation recovered from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this regard, he said the huge growth in tourism witnessed from 2020 has now been stalled. The former minister cited correcting the remaining issues as the way to resolve the issue.

“A huge from 2020 to 2021. From 2021 to 2022. From 2022 to 2023. After coming to this point, the way forward now is to resolve the remaining issues,” he said.

Mausoom, underscoring the number of tourist arrivals has never been seen as a symbol of success, said the aim, at present, should be to overcome the obstacles.

He added that tourism's success should be measured by the stability and happiness it brings to the people. In this trajectory, he noted that the fifth tourism masterplan had been formulated in consideration of these matters. Mausoom emphasized that results can be achieved if the plan, formulated with the participation of prominent figures in the Maldivian tourism industry and industry stakeholders, is implemented.

He expressed concern, citing the implementation of the plan is not being witnessed.

“I do not see the fifth tourism masterplan being implemented. However, fractions of it are. However, a master will only work when efforts are put to address all of its points,” he said.

Mausoom, underscoring he was happy over the fact the Maldives receives a large number of tourists, expressed hope that the nation reaches its two million arrival target by the end of the year.

Nevertheless, he stressed the need to consider the happiness of the people, and the revenue earned to the state from tourism rather than celebrate the number of tourist arrivals. He noted that the industry generated a higher revenue than the state budget.