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Monthly spotlight

Frankly Speaking

With Maldives tourism expected to exceed 2.3 million visitors this year, is the country’s infrastructure, service quality, and workforce prepared for sustained growth? What strengths stand out, and where are the key pressure points or concerns?

Every month we invite respected voices from across the industry to weigh in on the themes shaping hospitality, travel, and the Maldivian experience.

December

2025

Experts

Sharing perspectives

Abdul Latheef — Abdul
SME & Entrepreneurs Federation of Maldives (SEFM)

December 2025

With Maldives tourism expected to exceed 2.3 million visitors this year, is the country’s infrastructure, service quality, and workforce prepared for sustained growth? What strengths stand out, and where are the key pressure points or concerns?

We asked a diverse panel how they would respond. Explore their answers below and discover actionable insights for your brand.

Ahmed Zubair Adam

Managing Director

Blue Horizon

Frankly speaking, our imported skilled labour, infrastructure and bed capacity need is not 2.3 million but 3.2 million tourists per year so that we do not close during low season.

Abdul Latheef

President

SME & Entrepreneurs Federation of Maldives (SEFM)

Tourism growth in the Maldives must be assessed not only by visitor numbers, but by its fairness and long-term legitimacy.

The country has the capacity to absorb higher arrivals due to strong air connectivity and a mature resort sector. However, sustainable expansion requires deliberate investment in Maldivian skills, reliable utilities, efficient transport logistics, environmental protection, and service quality.

Tourism policy must ensure clear and measurable benefits for island communities, including local employment, skills development, higher household incomes, improved ferry and airport connectivity, and support for local businesses in fisheries, transport, food supply, guesthouses, and crafts.

Where tourism development has reduced access to land, lagoons, fishing grounds, or affordability, justification alone is insufficient. Structured compensation and livelihood restoration must form part of tourism governance to maintain social trust and sustaina

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Frankly Speaking

With Maldives tourism expected to exceed 2.3 million visitors this year, is the country’s infrastructure, service quality, and workforce prepared for sustained growth? What strengths stand out, and where are the key pressure points or concerns?

Ahmed Zubair Adam

Abdul Latheef

Join the conversation

Considering the limited direct flight connections beyond the Middle East and Asia Pacific, how achievable is the Maldives' goal of attracting more long-haul travelers?

What steps should the government and industry take to make the Southern Maldives a viable and consistently operational destination for airlines?

How do you anticipate the recent changes in the financial ecosystem of the Maldives will impact the tourism industry as we approach early 2025?

With Maldives tourism expected to exceed 2.3 million visitors this year, is the country’s infrastructure, service quality, and workforce prepared for sustained growth? What strengths stand out, and where are the key pressure points or concerns?

Do you think the newly introduced investor visa by the Maldives government will help make the Maldives' economy more balanced, or could it create new risks by depending too much on wealthy investors and real estate?

What are the most effective strategies for small island states to adapt to climate change while maintaining economic growth?

How can the Maldives elevate its appeal to 'foodie' travelers who seek sustainable, authentic/traditional, and visually unique experiences? What strategies can be implemented to attract and engage this growing segment of gastronomy enthusiasts in the Maldives?

For hoteliers and stakeholders in the Maldives tourism industry, what's the best way to survive during periods of stormy economic turbulence, especially when taxes have also increased?

As more women break into male-dominated industries and rise to leadership positions, what strategies and insights can we share to empower and support one another in navigating the challenges and seizing the opportunities of these traditionally male-dominated fields?

In what ways do experienced and educated professionals play a crucial role in expanding and promoting the Maldives tourism sector on a global scale, and what strategies should be implemented to attract and retain such talent within the industry?

What strategies can be implemented to ensure the harmonious coexistence of community-based tourism and luxury tourism within the Maldives?

Russia has become the dominant market for tourist arrivals in the Maldives. What do you think are the key reasons for this trend, and how might it evolve in the coming months?

What strategies can hotels and resorts adopt to align their operations with Sustainable Development Goals?

How would allowing shark fisheries impact tourism in the Maldives? What effects would fully enforcing a ban on shark feeding have?

The developmental works at Dhiyaneru lagoon began during August 2023. What benefit can Dhiyaneru Safari Harbour / Marina bring to the leisure boating industry of the Maldives?

It is expected that the expansion of Hanimaadhoo International Airport with an investment of MVR 2 billion will change the entire tourism and trade landscape in northern Maldives. What are the pros and cons from this project?

What impact do you anticipate the government's fifth tourism master plan, which prioritizes increasing bed nights and enhancing services, will have on the tourism industry?

With 68 percent of the bed capacity occupied by resorts, what challenges and opportunities do you foresee for diversifying accommodation options, considering the current distribution of beds in resorts, guesthouses, hotels, and liveaboard vessels?

With the recent launch of integrated tourism and plans of enhancement for Gan International Airport, what positive impacts are to be expected on the southern region of Maldives?

Will Homestay be an advantage to Maldivian tourism? Or will it bring revenue and change positioning from a unique destination to an all-inclusive average one.

Do you believe that the Addendum to the Tourism Act with the mandatory service charge aimed at supporting the tourism industry employees will affect the industry in increasing the number of visitors? How will this bring a positive impact in terms of service and job satisfaction?

Do you believe that Homestay Tourism would benefit the Maldives Tourism Industry and support it in terms of growth? Or would it pose a challenge for small and medium tourism sectors, most of whom have barely survived during the initial pandemic with the stimulus packages, loans and moratoriums?

Maldives has seen a major drop of arrival numbers due to temporary suspension of tourists from South Asian destinations. What's your opinion on lifting the suspension with extra measures?

As we reopen our borders, welcoming the world to the Maldives, will it be feasible for the government or tourist establishments to handle quarantine and isolation expenses of travellers without a dedicated COVID-19 coverage insurance for tourists?

With the reopening of Maldivian borders on July 15, 2020, there has been a rise in the number of guests who wish for longer stays. Would it be a challenge if guests are not allowed to have split stays in the country such as Resort-Liveaboard and Guesthouse-Liveaboard?

The Maldives will be reopening its borders for tourism on July 15. Once tourists start to flock, how will the sector adapt to the pandemic in terms of products offered, travel and accommodation? And do you think the sector is psychologically ready?

Theres a significant growth in the number of women, local and expatriates, employed in all areas of the tourism sector from guesthouses, travel agents, hotels and resorts. However, women taking jobs in the boating industry is little to nil. How can the boa

Does the requirement for a negative PCR test result during departure from the Maldives put the country in a much safer, precautionary position, or does it distract new bookings? What does the industry or nation achieve from this requirement?

We have heard recently from several industry players that the virus is creating dollar liquidity concerns. To what extent is liquidity tightening in trade? How is trade changing as the world moves into the "new normal" post-COVID?

MMPRC's marketing activities for 2019's last quarter has been gridlocked with events, one right after the other. From the perspective of a tourism industry stakeholder, do you believe there is an adequate window to accomplish a productive campaign before the year ends?

The number of Luxury Yachts without duty for Special Projects has immensely increased, does this effect the market of boats operated locally?

The number of Luxury Yachts without duty for Special Projects has immensely increased, does this effect the market of Boats operated locally?

Distant resorts , guesthouses and liveaboards operating far from International Airports are challenged with steep fares for tourists flying on domestic flights. How much of an impact could this be on tourism and how crucial is it that it needs a quick solution?

Why is Maldives perceived as an expensive holiday destination by foreign travel agents? Is it because we are unable to market other products effectively?

The increasing traffic has been contributing many challenges for slots/parking at Velana International Airport in recent years; will the newly completed 55,300 square meter apron be sufficient to meet the demands for this year's busy season for general aviation and business aviation traffic?

How important are OTAs for Maldives? What incentives do you offer to local DMC's compared to OTAs?

Dorm room accommodation for budget travellers are a new in the Maldives. What are your views on hostels and beachside camping across the Maldives Islands?

Considering the relatively few Maldivian Chefs in the hospitality industry, do you think there are enough opportunities available for locals to excel in this profession?

How will charging for dive sites and surf breaks benefit the tourism industry?

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