Tourism pioneer Afeef expresses strong support for publicly owned resort model

The government’s plan to develop 10 resorts through state-owned companies will mark a major shift in the tourism industry, Crown Company Chairman Hussain Afeef said on Saturday. 

Speaking at a special session held to mark National Tourism Day, held at Kurumba Maldives, the birthplace of Maldivian tourism, Afeef said the resorts will be developed under a model that is open to the public and will directly benefit a wide segment of the tourism workforce.

Afeef, one of the most respected pioneers of Maldivian tourism with decades of experience since the industry’s inception, said he is deeply encouraged by the project and urged the government to implement it successfully. “This is something I am very hopeful about. I wish success in this,” he said.

Maldives has been in tourism for 54 years, and Afeef said the government’s policy of directly distributing income from the industry to the people will strengthen the country’s economic structure.

The Cabinet has approved the development of at least 10 resorts through government-owned companies over the next three years, as announced by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu in his presidential statement at the opening of this year’s Parliament. The President said profits from these resorts will be deposited in foreign currency into the accounts of all Maldivians. The investment is expected to begin paying returns in 2030, with an estimated USD 400 per resident per year. For a family of five, each member will be a shareholder in at least 10 resorts and receive a combined USD 2,000 annually, he said.

The President added that all necessary steps will be taken swiftly to make the model a reality. Last December, the government amended the Tourism Act to allow state-owned companies to develop tourist resorts or integrated tourism projects. With this amendment, islands, land or lagoons can be allocated to government companies for public-benefit tourism development.

Previously, islands were allocated through public announcements or special regulations. With the change, the government is now working to introduce a new tourism model designed to deliver direct financial benefits to the people.

During the ceremony, Tourism Minister Mohamed Ameen and MATI Chairperson Hussain Afeef also launched the Visit Maldives Year 2027 campaign, unveiling its official logo, theme song and branding, further underscoring the industry’s focus on long-term national tourism strategy.