Champa Afeef appointed chairman of MATI, succeeding the late MU Manik

Hussain Afeef (Champa Afeef) has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), filling the position left vacant following the passing of long‑serving chairman Mohamed Umar Manik (MU Manik).

The appointment was made during MATI’s 36th Annual General Meeting, held on Sunday at Kurumba Maldives, where the association elected its Executive Committee for a new term.

Afeef, a prominent figure in the tourism sector, previously served as MATI’s Vice Chairman. He has long been recognised for his contributions to the industry and his continued efforts to promote and strengthen Maldives tourism.

The chairmanship became vacant after MU Manik, one of the pioneers of the Maldivian tourism industry, passed away in late August last year while undergoing treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

Kurumba Maldives, the venue for this year’s AGM, holds a special place in the country’s tourism history as the first resort to open in the Maldives. MU Manik redeveloped the property in 1986 as Kurumba Village and played a key role in transforming it into the nation’s first five‑star resort.