The Guesthouse Symposium, organized by the Ministry
of Tourism was successfully held with the participation of over 400 guesthouses
across Maldives. Key tourism industry stakeholders and representatives from
Atoll and Island Councils attended, shared their ideas and had a good
networking at the symposium held at Dharubaaruge Convention Centre at the
capital Male City on Saturday, 29th December 2018.
Main objective of this symposium was to create a platform
for guesthouse operators and relevant government authorities to come together
and discuss issues and constraints, providing strategic directions for
sustainable development of guesthouse sector, which support environmentally
sensitive business operations, while protecting the cultural and natural
heritage of the island in providing maximum economic and social benefits to the
local community. Maldives Guesthouse Symposium was held as part of the
governments first 100-day pledges.
Themed as Towards Sustainable Tourism, the
symposium focused on four separate sessions; first session was concentrated on
the legal framework governing the operation of guesthouses. The second session
focused on the relationship between tourism and local communities, whilst the
third session explored destination marketing strategies for the guesthouse
industry. The final session collected the experiences of guesthouse owners and
operators. Group discussions were also held during the symposium, where
participants held discussions on three key topics: sustainable development of
the guesthouse industry, development of support infrastructure and marketing of
guesthouses and related products.
Hon. Minister of Tourism, Mr. Ali Waheed stated that "The
government will commence work on formulating a tourism sector strategic master
plan within its first 100 days and 2019 will be a record-breaking year for Guesthouse
tourism in the Maldives. This symposium has created a platform for the local
guesthouse industry to unite and address the key challenges faced by the
industry stakeholders. Minister acknowledged the high turnout for the symposium,
especially during the peak tourist season. Minister also stressed that tax laws
need to be amended in order to boost the local tourism and decentralization is a
key to the development of the guesthouse industry".
Managing Director
of MMPRC, Mr. Thoyyib Mohamed stated that "Maldivian
culture would be a prominent aspect in the promotion of tourism and it would be
immensely promoted at ITB Berlin in 2019.
Marketing seminars will be held in 11 different locations in Maldives and the
corporation will collaborate with social media activists and travel writers to
promote Maldives as a travel destination. Mr. Thoyyib also expressed the
need to establish efficient facilities such as water and sewerage systems in
local islands to stimulate demands for local guesthouses".
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Maldives
Guesthouse Symposium 2018, Hon. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih stated "the SME
Financing and Development Corporation (SFDC) will be created with the
shareholding of the government. SFDC would be first established as a financial
institute which does not take deposits, but it would be changed to a depository
company later on. Financial and professional assistance would be provided
to guesthouse businesses through this company, with loans scheduled to be
issued from February 2019.
Moreover, Hon. President addressed that tourism
industry accounts 70 percent of the Maldivian economy and stated the importance
of further developing the industry in order to achieve economic feasibility and
individual growth. Maldives should not only be promoted as a luxury
destination; middle-class market must be advertised as well.
According to the latest statistics released by the tourism ministry, the country has over 500 registered guesthouses offering a total bed capacity of 8292 accounting to around 18 per cent of the total accommodation capacity.
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