Vice President of Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), and one of the tourism pioneers of the country urged Maldives to not let go of its tradition in order to further promote tourism in the country.
Speaking at the Tourism's Golden Jubilee awarding ceremony at Kurumba Maldives on Sunday evening, the tourism tycoon, Hussain Afeef, famously known as Champa Afeef, noted that Maldives had always developed tourism with the available existing facilities. He said that if the policy was maintained, the country can overcome any obstacle or hurdle they may face.
“We started the industry with the same policy. Using the existing facilities to do the best job possible. It is a policy needed to ensure that the industry goes forward,” he said, while speaking at the event.
Afeef had commended the professionalism and ethics of the industry’s newer generation. In his speech, he said that he was "moved" to witness the impressive growth the island nation's tourism industry has observed over five decades since its inception.
Afeef showered his praises to the industry aspirants as well as the Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who through his effective leadership, helped maintain the island nation's tourism momentum through the pandemic.
The tourism magnate identified the genius in reopening Maldivian borders following a three-month closure amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which helped the island nation's economy to observe recovery faster than the anticipated period.
Speaking about the tourism industry's prospective outlook, Afeef stressed on the importance of development sustainable policies and promoting environmentally friendly practices.
At the Golden Jubilee awarding ceremony, former Maldivian Presidents Ibrahim Nasir and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom were honored with special awards for their contributions and involvement in the development of tourism sector as well.
In addition to the former head of states, four other tourism pioneers received awards for their contributions, with a total of 57 distinct awards presented to tourism investors, tour operators and airlines.
The Golden Jubilee awards were curated by a special committee of notable tourism industry professionals and experts.
Run and managed by the leading and prolific figures of the MATI, they announced planned events in commemoration of the island nation's Tourism Golden Jubilee.
Planned events include special tourism centric events in collaboration with international celebrities and a tourism industry-related scholarship partnership program in association with Chevening.
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