Latest enhancements and developments at GAN certainly renew hopes for tourism in southern Maldives. However as Airline operators, we constantly indicate that domestic transfer cost from Velana to GAN makes southern Maldives one of the more expensive regions compared to identical products offered in Male’ atoll.
I personally believe there has to be a fair share of tourism diverted to the south Maldives. Success story of Maldives Tourism should equally be enjoyed by North to South and certainly should not be secluded to one area or atoll. May it be private or government, above mentioned enhancements and developments in GAN comes at a cost. If these facelifted facilities can not be showcased to the visitors, what is the point in making investments for such facelifts?
Hence, I see the need of an exclusive southern tourism promotion team comprising the Ministry / city councils / community leaders / airport / airlines/ resorts / guest houses / liveaboards. Dilute an exclusive and structured tourism promotion drive to the region with the help of the Ministry as well as MMPRC .
Once the team commences the activities, lifestyle to the low income bracket of the local community, specifically the guesthouses and tourism SME would be uplifted. It would give a new meaning to the integrated enhancement plan. Otherwise, I don’t see the positive side of it without a structured plan to drive tourists to the south.