Presidents office Minister Ahmed Kerafa
Naseem has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Tourism.
An experienced figure in the industry, Mr. Naseem
received the award at the MATATO Maldives Travel Award 2019, held in Crossroads
Maldives last night.
Mr. Naseem stated at the ceremony, his hope
that the countrys industry would always have the participation of Maldivians.
"This industry was envisaged by Maldivians,
developed by Maldivians, and its about time that some of the companies start
selling shares to Maldivians. That way well have more Maldivian participation
in this industry" said honourable Mr. Naseem, as he dedicated his Lifetime
Achievement Award to his mother and father in a heart-warming speech.
Mr. Naseem is one of the pioneering figures
behind the establishment and foundation of the massive industry that is seen in
the Maldives today. Naseem brought the first ever tourist and travel agent to
the Maldives, an Italian national named George Corbin on a cargo boat named
Maldives Exporter in 1971.
Accommodation for the first tourists that
arrived in the country in 1972 was also arranged by honourable Mr. Naseem as
well as Umar Manik and Champa Hussain Afeef.
Mr. Naseem and Umar Manik established the
first travel agency of the country called Moomin Agency and the two along with
Afeef were also the figures behind the Kurumba Village in Vihamanafushi, which
was the first resort to be opened in the country.
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