Minister of Tourism Ahmed Naseem has stated that the One Island One Resort concept was introduced to the world by Maldivians. Minister Naseem, one of the founders of tourism in the Maldives, made the remark at the gala night held to mark National Tourism Day.
Speaking at the event, Minister Naseem said that Maldivian tourism had the capacity to overcome the challenges faced in the past 50 years due to the natural geography of the Maldives. As such, he said that geography was key in its One Island One Resort concept, which was a product introduced to the world by Maldivians that has played an important role in the development of the country's tourism industry even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, Minister Naseem said that the Maldivian tourism industry needs to be developed further, beyond advertising the natural beauty of the beach and sea. He highlighted that the tourism industry needs to emphasise other aspects of the Maldives, such as its 3,000-year-old history. As such, he said that heritage tourism should be explored and that the country's heritage should be protected and preserved.
Awards were presented to outstanding individuals in the tourism industry at the gala night. The event was attended by stakeholders and workers in the tourism industry.