Tourism safety is no accident, says ex-police commissioner Riyaz
The safety and security associated with the Maldives tourism industry is not the result of chance but of the daily work of professionals across the sector, former Police Commissioner and Gage Private Limited founder Abdulla Riyaz said on Tuesday.
Riyaz made the remarks at the Safety and Security Conference Maldives 2026, which began at Barceló Nasandhura. The conference, organised by the Maldives Association of Fire and Safety Service Industry (MAFSSI), is examining risks facing the tourism industry and measures to address them.
Speaking at the conference, Riyaz said generations of workers had contributed to developing the Maldives’ islands into a tourism destination recognised around the world.
He said an important part of that development was something visitors rarely see or need to think about: the systems and people responsible for their safety.
“It is the assurance that they [tourists] are safe. That assurance is not an accident or something that happened by chance,” Riyaz said.
“It is an assurance created by the daily work of the thousands of workers, managers, regulators, first responders and service providers in this sector who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of tourists, employees and the industry as a whole.”
Riyaz said that while these groups work towards a common objective, they do not often have an opportunity to meet collectively and discuss issues affecting the sector.
“The purpose of this conference is to bring everyone together,” he said. “Over these two days, it will provide an opportunity to develop a shared understanding, learn from one another, exchange experiences and plan for the future.”
The Safety and Security Conference Maldives 2026 has received endorsements from government ministries and tourism industry associations, including the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology, Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Ministry of Defence, Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) and National Hotels and Guesthouse Association of Maldives (NHGAM).
The conference is also supported by international organisations and private-sector companies.
Ten panel discussions are scheduled over the two-day event, bringing together officials and professionals to examine issues related to safety and security.
