Government Provides Technical Support to Councils to Decentralize Tourism Development

The Maldivian government is providing local councils with essential technical assistance to design and implement tourism projects tailored to their specific regional needs, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. State Minister Abdulla Niyaz explained that the initiative is part of a broader strategy to expand the tourism footprint across the archipelago. The government is currently allocating islands and lagoons in the northern and southern regions for various tourism purposes while simultaneously boosting local tourism on inhabited islands. Speaking on PSM News' Raajje Miadhu programme, Minister Niyaz detailed the collaborative process, noting that the ministry works with councils through consultations and memorandums of understanding. This support includes the provision of technical advice and assistance with bid documentation to ensure that the tourism products introduced align with local requirements and identified opportunities. Developing tourism on inhabited islands is expected to catalyze significant economic and infrastructural growth at the community level. This expansion will not only increase the national bed capacity but also pave the way for the introduction of diversified tourism products in the future. Addressing the current geographical imbalance of the industry, Minister Niyaz noted that tourism remains heavily concentrated in the central region due to existing transport connectivity. To rectify this, the government is prioritizing the north and south to ensure a more equitable distribution of wealth and opportunity. Crucial to this decentralization is the development of transport infrastructure. The State Minister revealed that an airport becomes commercially feasible once a region reaches a capacity of 6,000 to 8,000 tourism beds. Consequently, major tourism projects are being strategically planned in conjunction with new airport developments. The overarching goal of this policy is to shift toward a more inclusive tourism model, ensuring that the benefits of the Maldives' primary economic driver are shared equally by citizens across all atolls.