The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) successfully organized its inaugural Member Forum on May 15, 2023, at H. Meerumaa in Male’. The event brought together 80 attendees, including MATI members and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Climate Change, and Technology representatives.

The forum’s primary objective was to foster productive discussions and seek practical solutions to the pressing issues and challenges faced by the Maldives tourism industry. Additionally, it emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge, expertise, and best practices within the industry to promote a collaborative environment. The ultimate goal was to collectively address and overcome the universal challenges that the industry faces.

The forum focused on three main thematic areas: Waste Management, Renewable Energy Generation at resorts, and managing fuel cost increases. These topics were chosen based on feedback received during MATI’s 33rd Annual General Meeting in February earlier this year. Members expressed concerns about waste management practices being solely imposed on the tourism sector and advocated for a national waste management plan encompassing all industries and communities. Additionally, the lack of industry-wide solutions for the newly enacted regulations prohibiting the disposal of wet waste into the ocean was also raised. Renewable energy generation was another key concern, with members calling for more significant industry and nationwide sharing of knowledge, expertise, and financing mechanisms to boost renewable energy production. Finally, the escalating fuel costs, a significant operational expense for the tourism industry, prompted an urgent call for innovative solutions and a national-level approach to address the issue.

Presentations on these topics were delivered by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Four Seasons Resorts Maldives, Sun Siyam Resorts, Soneva, Crown and Champa Resorts (CCR), and Atmosphere Core.

The forum concluded with a statement from Mr. Ahmed Nazeer, the Secretary General of MATI. Mr. Nazeer emphasized the significance of addressing waste management, renewable energy generation, and fuel cost management as nationwide challenges crucial to the sustainability of the tourism industry and the entire nation. He highlighted the importance of fostering a robust private and public sector partnership, underscoring MATI’s history of close collaboration with the government. Mr. Nazeer committed to pursuing policies and actions that promote economic and social well-being while expressing the organization’s dedication to maintaining a close working relationship with the government in the future.

The 2nd Edition of the Member Forum is tentatively scheduled for July 2023.