Tourism Boom Due to MDP Policies, Not Gov’t’s Work, Says MDP
Photo: MV+
Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) said today the current administration’s success with tourism arrivals is because they are riding on the coattails of steps put in place by the previous government when the MDP was in office.
Article 33(b) of the Maldivian Constitution stipulates that the leader of the opposition party with the most parliamentary seats must respond to the presidential address delivered at the start of each parliamentary term. Ibrahim Nazil, the MP for South Hithadhoo constituency, delivered his response to the presidential address on February 6.
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Nazil said the current administration was able to achieve their record amounts of tourist arrivals last year due to the effort taken by the MDP administration. President Muizzu was sworn into office in November 2023.
Minority Leader Nazil highlighted the previous administration’s efforts to increase tourist arrivals amidst the crises they faced, including the 2020 COVID pandemic, the increase in fuel prices, and the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war.
“Due to the steps taken by the previous MDP administration, by the time the government changed, the whole economy had changed direction to move forward,” Nazil said in Dhivehi.
Additionally, he accused offensive statements made by certain political staff of the current administration regarding India impacting tourist arrivals from the country as well.
“Some ministerial-level political employees appointed by President Muizzu had behaved in vulgar and offensive ways towards India. Tourism experts estimate this led to a loss of MVR 3 billion to the industry in 2024,” Nazil said.
In 2024, the Maldives saw a total of 2,046,615 tourist arrivals, with 130,805 of them being Indian visitors. This marks a decline of 78,393 Indian tourists compared to 2023 when India was the top market for the Maldives. In 2024, India ranked sixth among the top ten markets for the Maldives by country.
