MATI calls on government to review tourism promotion budget

Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) has said that the budget allocated to Tourism Ministry for this year of MVR15.5 million is not suitable to keep up with the changes in the world tourism market, and called on the government to review this budget.

A two-page statement signed by Chairman of MATI Koli Mohamed Umar Manik says that the Maldives may have to face several economic challenges this year, and that several promotions have to be conducted around the world this year to convince people that the Maldives is a desired tourist destination. He highlighted that the budget of MVR15.5 million is four times smaller than last year’s budget of MVR63 million.

“The allocation of such a small budget for the promotion of the Maldives raises the question of how informed the relevant authorities are of the importance of the role played by this industry in the economy of the country,” says the statement.

MATI said that Mauritius, which has a tourism industry comparable to that of the Maldives, had assigned €10 million (MVR207 million) for tourism promotion this year; and while tourism contributes to 6 percent of GDP in Mauritius, it contributes to 29 percent of GDP in the Maldives.

“The allocation of such a small amount for the promotion of tourism imposes a great challenge not just for people involved in this industry, but for the country as a whole,” says the statement.

MATI said that tourist arrival is increasing for India and Sri Lanka, and that work needs to be done to increase the number of tourists who visit the Maldives from the main markets.

“The reason is that unlike our neighbouring countries, our economy is based on tourism,” says the statement.