Maldives Association of Travel
Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has earnestly asked Maldivian authorities
along with tourist establishments for stricter safety standards to make sure
tourists are safe.
MATATO expressed concern over the
increasing number of drownings and fires in the tourist establishments in Maldives,
in a press statement last Monday.
They
stressed the need for stricter safety standards and better awareness and safety
instructions in regard to tourists.
Ministry
of Tourism has also expressed their concern over the increasing number of
incidents in the Maldives and announced a campaign to re-inspect all tourist establishments
in Maldives to make sure all establishments are up to code.
MATATO
acknowledged in its statement, the initiative but also stressed the need for
all stakeholders of the tourism industry to come together in a collective
effort, by organizing individual initiations which would help create a better
safety regulation as well as awareness and education for tourists.
"For a nation heavily dependent on the tourism
industry, repeated headlines on such incident can have irreversible effects on
the image of the destination," remarked MATATO. "Especially in the islands
where local tourism is prominent, we encourage local communities and private
sector to support and encourage programs that will ensure that tourists are
well informed of safety standards and risks in areas where they frequent."
The association also stressed the need for safety information to be readily available in multiple languages in all tourist establishments, and highlighted a past collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Maldives to distribute safety awareness leaflets to tourists.
It announced plans to re-launch the campaign with
stakeholders in the tourism industry in order to distribute safety information as
broadly as possible.
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