The Edition
facebook icon twitter icon instagram icon linkedin icon

Latest

Velana International Airport nominated as World's Leading Airport by WTA

Ahmed Aiham
01 October 2020, MVT 17:02
Velena International Airport during the boder shutdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. PHOTO: NISHAN ALI / MIHAARU
Ahmed Aiham
01 October 2020, MVT 17:02

Velana International Airport (VIA), on Wednesday, announced its nomination by the World Travel Awards (WTA) as the 'World's Leading Airport' of 2020.

VIA has been crowned the 'Indian Ocean's Leading Airport' for a total of 11 years over the course of the WTA.

The World Travel Awards was launched in 1993 to celebrate excellence across all areas of tourism worldwide. The WTA galas are attended by the industry elite, including government leaders and international media.

As with numerous countries around the world, in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Maldives closed its air and sea borders to tourist arrivals on March 27, before reopening on July 15.

Just a few months prior to the health crisis, government projections for tourism were overwhelmingly positive with aims to reach two million tourist arrivals in 2020 and toppling 2019’s record of 1.7 million.

Heavily reliant on tourism for revenue, the restrictions on international travel left the country vulnerable to severe economic impacts. In mid-April, the World Bank projected that Maldives would be the worst-hit economy in the South Asian region due to the pandemic.

After the lifting of restrictions in July, Maldives has noted a significant reduction in tourist arrivals compared to pre-COVID figures, with only a total of 13,516 tourists arriving in Maldives between July 15 and September 15, as per Maldives Immigration.

However, Minister of Tourism Dr Abdulla Mausoom has stated that the government is expecting an additional 100,000 tourist arrivals before year-end.

Maldives estimates a shortfall of approximately USD 450 million (MVR 6.9 billion) in foreign currency and a state deficit of MVR 13 billion in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the tourism industry.

Share this story

Discuss

MORE ON BUSINESS