New Hanimaadhoo Airport set to boost Haa Dhaalu Atoll with 4,000 tourist beds
Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal announced on Wednesday that the HDh. Hanimaadhoo International Airport, funded by India’s Exim Bank, is expected to facilitate the addition of 4,000 tourist beds in the surrounding region upon its completion. Faisal shared this update during a parliamentary session in response to a question posed by MDP MP Hussein Ziyad. Ziyad […]
Tourism Minister commits to reopening Shangri-La Villingili Resort, willing to amend laws if necessary
Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal announced on Wednesday plans to reopen Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort, even if it requires amending current laws. Faisal made this commitment in response to a question raised in parliament by Ibrahim Nazil, MP for Hithadhoo South. “If changes to the law are necessary, the resort will be reopened,” Faisal stated. Shangri-La Villingili […]
Maldives’ main airport’s new terminal to open in December 2024
Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal confirmed on Friday that the new terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) will be inaugurated by December. The announcement was made in the minister’s World Tourism Day message, highlighting the terminal’s significance to the country’s tourism industry. Faisal emphasised that the new terminal is a central part of the main […]
Maldives to amend 1991 diving regulations
Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal has announced that the Maldives’ diving regulations, which date back to 1991, will soon be amended in response to concerns raised by the diving community. The announcement was made during the Fuvahmulah Tourism Awards 2024 ceremony, held in celebration of International Tourism Day and organised by the Fuvahmulah City Council. […]
Tourism minister calls for greater Maldivian ownership in resorts
Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal has reiterated the government’s commitment to increasing Maldivian ownership and leadership in the tourism sector, particularly within resorts. Speaking on World Tourism Day, Faisal highlighted this as one of the government’s key objectives. Faisal said that Maldivians show strong interest in tourism and that the government is encouraging young people to […]
Maldives faces challenge from Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Project, says tourism minister
Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal stated that Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Project poses a challenge to the Maldives’ tourism industry. He noted that this initiative mirrors Maldives’ renowned attractions, including white sandy beaches, lush greenery, and peaceful islands. Speaking on World Tourism Day, Faisal highlighted the Maldives’ position as a world-leading tourism destination. However, maintaining this […]
Tourism Minister calls for boost in occupancy and longer stays to drive Maldives tourism growth
Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal has called on the industry to not only focus on increasing tourist arrivals but also to boost occupancy rates, extend the length of tourist stays, and enhance tourist spending in the Maldives. Speaking at the GM Forum 2024, Minister Faisal expressed optimism that tourist arrivals in the Maldives would surpass 2 […]
UK tourism promotion planned for Addu, says minister
Tourism in Addu, the southernmost region of the Maldives and a former British protectorate, will be promoted in the United Kingdom, according to Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal. Speaking at the Destination Addu 2024 symposium, where efforts to develop a comprehensive city brand for Addu were launched, Faisal emphasised the city’s historical significance and the need […]
‘Welcome India’ event to propel India to third place in Maldives tourist arrivals: Faisal
The Welcome India tourism promotional event, held in three Indian cities last week, is expected to elevate India to the third-largest source of tourist arrivals to the Maldives, according to Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal. The event, organised jointly by the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) and the Maldives Association of Travel Agents & […]
India to become top 3 tourism market for Maldives, Faisal says
Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal has announced that relations between India and the Maldives have been on the upswing since President Dr Mohamed Muizzu attended the swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a phone interview with PSM from New Delhi, Faisal expressed confidence that India would emerge as one of the top three […]
Tourism minister calls for financial reforms at UN debate
Debt burden hinders development of small island states Maldivian Minister of Tourism, Ibrahim Faisal, delivered a powerful message at the UN High-level Thematic Debate on Debt Sustainability and Socio-Economic Equality for All. Minister Faisal urged significant reforms to the international financial system, arguing that the current structure disadvantages Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like the […]
