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 for branding to elevate it in the global tourism market.

Faisal noted the ongoing presence of British-era sites in Addu and highlighted the heritage ministry’s plans to rehabilitate these locations as tourist attractions.

The minister stated that promotional activities would focus particularly on the British market, and the Addu City Council plans to participate in the World Travel Market (WTM) fair in the UK.

Faisal reaffirmed support from the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) for promoting tourism in Addu, stressing that the brand would capture the culture, aspirations, and potential of the tourism industry in the region.

The minister also underscored the importance of establishing direct flights to Addu to help operationalise resorts and enhance tourism development in the area.