Tourism Minister stated that this is the time to expand and diversify the tourism industry into subcategories, asserting that the introduction of ecotourism will increase the odds of tourists choosing Maldives as their holiday destination.
Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal stated tonight that if ecotourism is expanded in the country, reasons for tourists to choose Maldives as their holiday destination will increase.
At the event held following the formation of an environmentally-friendly ecotourism project to inaugurate the related framework, Faisal insisted that this is the time to expand and diversify the country’s tourism industry into various subindustries and asserted the importance of devising additional plans in order to achieve this.
The Minister highlighted that tourists who prefer traveling to eco-friendly, sustainable destinations for their holidays has increased and that this allows the industry a chance to expand in the country.
“Ecotourism projects will become a firm step for this. The inclusion of ecotourism projects in the government’s vows conveys the foresight and sturdy policies of the President Dr Mohamed Muizzu,” said the Tourism Minister at the ceremony held at Lonuziyaaraiy Park.
Under this project, places that adopts special characteristics of the country’s environment will be listed and arrangements for tourists to visit these locations will be facilitated. Furthermore, performing evaluations - according to an environmentally prioritized standard - of organizations that offer tourism services is also included in this project.
At last night’s ceremony, Minister of Environment, Thoriq Ibrahim remarked that there are locations in the country that are prized environmentally and culturally, and assured that establishing the popularity of these places by presenting them to tourists will be highly prioritized within the ecotourism program.
He highlighted that efforts are underway to establish additional biosphere reserves in the country in which the new reserves will be determined based on the proposals of the citizens. Thoriq further added that nature parks will also be established within each atoll in the country.
“Presently, there are 90 areas that are environmentally protected in Maldives. However, only three of these 90 areas are being supervised and maintained,” said the Minister of Environment.
He outlined that all biosphere reserves except the ones located in Baa Atoll, Addu and Fuvahmulah are unmaintained. Thoriq ensured that the remaining endangered areas will be protected better than they are at present with this ecotourism project.
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