Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development Dr. Mariyam Mariya has stated that efforts to develop a training resort will commence within the next two years. The training resort is being established in collaboration with the Maldives National University (MNU).
Speaking at a press conference, Minister Dr. Mariya stated that the primary objective of developing a training resort, is to welcome international students to the Maldives. The minister revealed that the proposal for the resort has already been completed and efforts are ongoing to review it. She stated that investors will also be sought within a one-year period, while the development of the training resort will officially commence within two years.
One of the major challenges within the tourism industry of Maldives is the lack of well-educated and skilled locals to fill the senior positions of the industry. Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal stated that the government aims to bring back students to fill the senior positions of the industry, after providing them scholarships and in accordance with the law. To achieve this objective, the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development took the initiative of establishing the training resort.
The latest population statistics indicates that a total of 58,089 individuals are employed in the tourism industry. Of these, only 22,337 are Maldivians, constituting to 40% of the individuals working in the industry. Meanwhile, over 35,000 foreigners are actively working in the tourism industry.