Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) Thoyyib Mohamed has stated the Maldivian tourism industry is positive and hopeful in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the first expert-led virtual forum series on the challenges faced by the tourism industry in the wake of COVID-19, Managing Director Thoyyib said the Maldives will start welcoming new tourists in different phases as it will open gates for arrivals from one category after another in efforts to revive the sector. Highlighting the Maldivian tourism sector has been impacted by various challenges in the past 20 years, Thoyyib said the country has survived such situations successfully.
Speaking at the forum titled South Asian Digital Travel Conversation, Managing Director Thoyyib said although the Maldives experienced huge economic contractions due to the tsunami in 2004, the country overcame the situation in 2006 with a 52% increase in the travel sector. Additionally, he noted the country reentered the market and gained a 21% increase within a year, despite the global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009.
Speaking at the forum organised by South Asian Travel Awards (SATA), Thoyyib further said the Maldives expects to open the country for tourists in June and the country will start its operations in different phases. He explained domestic operations will resume first followed by business operations. He said the country will only welcome tourists when they are assured the country is safe to travel after the pandemic.
Furthermore, the managing director stated several budget airlines have announced bankruptcy and the government has considered its impact as it plans to welcome tourists again. Thoyyib also remarked on the importance of establishing a recovery policy that represents all stakeholders. He said the recovery plan must be innovative and the sector must make arrangements to accommodate more people with special needs.
The topic of the first-ever session of the series was Reviving the Tourism Sector in South Asia. Vice President of SATA Suraj Khan moderates the virtual sessions.