Minister Faisal Reveals Major Budget Augmentation Plans for Tourism Promotion

In an effort to amplify the global tourism footprint of the Maldives, the government plans to substantially increase the budget allocated for marketing and promotional activities, Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal has revealed.

The administration of President Mohamed Muizzu, which took office in November 2023, has set ambitious targets for the nation’s tourism sector. During a recent interview with the public service broadcaster, Minister Faisal expressed confidence in the government’s strategy, citing the positive outcomes already visible since the administration took office.

In the first quarter of this year, from 1 January to 31 March, the Maldives welcomed 604,004 tourists. This figure exceeds a quarter of the arrival target set for 2024 and sets a new record for the Maldives. This achievement represents a 15.3 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023, when the number of tourist arrivals was 523,928. In 2022, the figure was recorded at 431,524.

Minister Faisal lauded this as a significant accomplishment for the Muizzu administration and underscored the importance of intensifying the government’s efforts to market and promote Maldivian tourism. To further these efforts, the government plans to increase the budget allocated to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), he said.

“I will put forth a proposal to the president for an increase in the MMPRC’s budget, viewing it as an investment, and should we execute it appropriately, there will indeed be a return,” Faisal stated.

As part of this promotional endeavour, plans have been drawn up to promote the different atolls of the Maldives as tourism destinations. Efforts are also underway to establish new source markets, Faisal said. “We are interested in venturing into additional markets and fortifying our marketing efforts in existing markets. Our approach will prioritise quantitative metrics and be driven by data,” he added.

In promoting the Maldives, the government will distinguish between resorts and guesthouses as separate tourism segments. This ambitious target follows the impressive figure of 1,878,543 tourists that the Maldives welcomed in 2023.

With the government amplifying its marketing and promotional campaigns, the Maldives is poised to set a new record of two million tourist arrivals this year.