Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal has announced the government’s decision to amend the Tourism Act in response to the longstanding issue of islands leased for tourism development that have remained undeveloped. He highlighted that some islands have been leased for 20 to 30 years without any progress in opening them to tourists.
In response to inquiries from parliamentarians, Minister Faisal reported that 58 islands leased for tourism development have not been developed for various reasons. He mentioned that a proposal has been submitted to the Economic Council outlining potential actions regarding these islands. Furthermore, he indicated that the Attorney General is actively working on amendments to the Tourism Act.
Minister Faisal emphasized that the decision to amend the legislation arises from the observation that legal terminations often lead to insufficient changes through the court system. The amendments aim to address this inadequacy.
Additionally, the Minister noted that some islands where development has halted are in significant arrears in payments to the state. To address this, the Ministry of Tourism is working to provide the necessary assistance to those affected. He also stated that he has sought the Attorney General's advice on the cancellation of agreements for 22 islands where no progress has been made.
The government is committed to expanding tourism across the country and enhancing the industry’s profitability. The Ministry of Tourism is actively striving to attract foreign investment in the sector.