Signing Ceremony of "Reimagining Tourism"

In the last decade, the Maldives' tourism industry has expanded significantly. The Maldives was one of the first tourist destinations to open its doors to the outside world. Tourist arrival numbers have increased significantly in less than a year, approaching pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, the Maldives will accept over 1.5 million visitors.

The project is supported by UNDP's Rapid Financing Facility and UNDP Core Funds. The 'Reimagining Tourism' project, which will focus on Laamu Atoll, will discover, create, and test pathways to make tourism in the country more inclusive, robust, and sustainable. For an 18-month cycle, a variety of government ministries can collaborate with foreign organizations. To ensure greater returns to communities, the project will emphasize the importance of including local communities in tourism planning and growth. It's a chance to reinvent tourism in ways that go beyond public-private partnerships.

Youth and women will be able to participate in the tourism developments on the islands and in the area as a result of the programme. The idea of sustainability and eco-tourism would be discussed not only in guesthouses and hotels, but also in the creation of larger tourist accommodations. The results of the research survey will be used to create improved models for future tourism development. The project is expected to spread across the country in the near future.