Minister of Tourism Ali Waheed has stated the tourism sector can be fully revived only by establishing a balance between traveller convenience and confidence.
The minister made the remarks addressing the 32nd joint meeting held by United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO)'s Commission for South Asia (CS) and Commission for East Asia and the Pacific (CAP). The virtual meeting was chaired by Maldivian Tourism Minister Ali Waheed.
The main agenda of the meeting was focused on providing international protection for tourists, rebuilding consumer confidence and policy issues in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual meeting focused on the impact of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on international tourism.
Speaking during the meeting, tourism minister said the Maldives believes a balance between traveller convenience and confidence is the key to successfully reviving the sector post-pandemic. The minister expressed the united response, universal standards and international cooperation from the international society, public and private organisations positively impacted the ways of thinking and facilitated in adapting to the new normal lifestyle. He added it is exactly what the Maldives will offer when its borders are reopened on July 15.
Furthermore, as the chair of the meeting, Minister Ali Waheed acknowledged the efforts of the UNWTO to help member states to restrategise policies and adopt new measures to overcome the negative effects on the economy.
A total of 27 countries of the 29 member states of the CSA and the CAP participated in the virtual conference.