Report: Ayya
Maldivian Democratic Party, MDP, have revealed the party’s tourism policy which will be followed in government led by the party.
Speaking on the policy, Hussain Afeef, President of the Party’s Parliamentary Group, said the economic policy of an MDP led government would not depend on tourism.
“There are many things that needs to be corrected, including those projects that the present government is implementing without any planning, our economic policy will not depend on tourism” said Afeef.
Afeef said that the current government in the name of developing tourism is developing many islands at once without assessing the negative impacts of such an expansion.
“Government without consulting anyone is just designating islands for resort development, no consideration is given to the negative impacts, without any consideration to global economic trends, just fulfill their political agenda” said Afeef.
Afeef said that by deciding to develop a number of resorts simultaneously, and by colossal sums as advance, the government has virtually given away tourism industry to foreign investors. He further noted that this has led to the loss of opportunity for the medium and small local investors to share the rewards of the tourism industry.
President of the MDP Parliamentary Group Afeef said that the purpose of charging huge sums of money as advance is to spend the money on fulfilling government’s political agenda.
He also noted not enough people are trained to occupy the jobs created by such an expansion. Afeef said that not many people are coming forward to join the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies and the failure of the government to persuade young people to take up jobs in tourism related fields.
Shadow Cabinet Minister for Tourism Afeef said that MDP’s tourism policy is based on developing the industry in the most beneficial manner to the people.
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