Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom has officially inaugurated homestay tourism in the Maldives with a special ceremony held in Dhiggaru, Meemu Atoll.
Homestay is a popular tourism model where tourists share a residence with a local household in the country they are visiting. The pilot project of homestay tourism in the Maldives is being conducted in a household of Dhiggaru. Minister Mausoom handed over the homestay license to the owner of the house, Moorithi, at the ceremony.
The residents of Dhiggaru welcomed the first guests of Moorithi, which are two couples from Sudan and the US as well as the United Nations Resident Coordinator for the Maldives Catherine Haswell. The residents from Dhiggaru honoured their arrival by casting and framing their footprints at the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, President of Dhiggaru Island Council Ahmed Nishan noted few individuals had been benefiting from the natural beauty of Maldivian islands. He, however, said the introduction of homestay tourism has provided every Maldivian with the opportunity to benefit from the industry.
Ministry of Tourism has stated homestay tourism is being introduced in the Maldives to allow more locals to get involved in the tourism sector and to generate more benefit from the sector to local communities. Homestay tourism is also expected to diversify the sector and to advertise the Maldives as an affordable tourist destination.