Tourism industry organizations express solidarity with Govt.

Six organizations of the Maldivian tourism industry has declared that they are with the government in its efforts to overcome the COVID-19 virus.

A joint statement by the six organizations read that they had met with the Tourism Minister Ali Waheed, Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail, and the Tax Commissioner of Maldives Inland Revenue Authority before the lockdown imposed in the country.

“We (organizations of tourism industry) support the relief loans and their amounts, entitlement changes by the government and its moratorium for the time being, in light of the discussions conducted during this meeting.” Read a statement by the organizations.

The six tourism industry organizations are:

• Guesthouse Association of Maldives (GAM)
• Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO)
• Association of Travel Agents (ATA)
• National Boating Association of Maldives (NBAM)
• Divers Association of Maldives (DAM)
• Maldives Association of Yacht Agents (MAYA)

The organizations also stressed the importance of obtaining relief loans as quickly as possible. Government plans to reopen the industry in June or July does not change the commitment by the organizations to cooperate with the government as they are doing so now, read the statement.

The organizations were also conducting situation analysis meetings digitally on a daily basis and stated that the only way to overcome the virus was collaborating.