Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC)‘s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Ibrahim Shiuree has emphasised the importance of protecting natural resources and establishing infrastructure to protect against climate disasters in developing tourism in coastal areas.
Delivering a keynote address at the 2025 Tropical Coastal City Tourism Event in Sanya, held from 18 to 21 November 2025, as a PATA Board Member representing the Maldives, Shiuree shared insights shaped by the Maldives’ unique geography and long-standing experience as a global coastal tourism leader. He noted that with all Maldivian islands being coastal and highly dependent on tourism, the country’s planning and resilience strategies offer relevant lessons for other coastal cities.
Shiuree highlighted key approaches behind the Maldives’ success, including the single-island resort model, clear tourism zoning, and the growth of community-based guesthouse tourism, all supported by strong investment in infrastructure, transport links, and essential services. He emphasised that sustainable development requires a balance between visitor demand, environmental protection, and community wellbeing.
With climate resilience formed a central part of his message, Shiuree underscored the Maldives’ ongoing investments in coastal protection, elevated reclamation, and strict environmental standards for tourism development, urging coastal cities to integrate climate realities into long-term planning to safeguard their economies and maintain investor confidence.
Shiuree concluded his address by noting that the future of coastal destinations will depend on strategic planning, inclusive growth, and resilience building. The event’s thematic tracks—Sustainable Tourism, High-End Tourism, and Indigenous Culture—provided additional platforms for delegates to explore Sanya’s coastal development and exchange ideas shaping the future of tropical tourism.