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MATI voices concern over reclamation of lagoons near resorts

24 January 2018, MVT 10:33
Aerial view of a dredger reclaiming a lagoon in Kaafu atoll.
24 January 2018, MVT 10:33

Maldives Association of Tourism Industries (MATI) has voiced concerns over the reclamation of lagoons in the vicinity of resorts.

In the annual report published for the year 2017, the association revealed that discussions were held in its 167th board meeting regarding the reclamation of lagoons, as it would cause much damage to the beauty of the islands.

It also stated that these concerns have been presented to the tourism minister, Moosa Zameer.

While concerns about the negative impacts of reclamation were presented to the minister, no other details on this were revealed in the annual report.

MATI also discussed the possibility of securing one island in each atoll as a virgin island without any activity, in its annual meeting. According to MATI, the importance of keeping a virgin island in each atoll has also been discussed with the tourism minister on several occasions.

MATI’s concerns coincide with several reclamation projects taking place in the largest tourism zone in the country, the capital Male atoll. Some resorts in the atoll have been complaining of high turbidity due to clay and silt from reclamation of lagoons in the area.

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