Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has highlighted the growing benefits of tourism diversification in the Maldives, saying continued expansion of the industry is creating greater opportunities for Maldivians to participate directly in one of the country’s most important economic sectors.
Speaking on the occasion of the World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2026, Minister Ameen reflected on the transformation of the Maldives tourism industry over the past 54 years and outlined the government’s efforts to broaden participation in tourism while strengthening the country’s position as one of the world’s most recognised travel destinations.
Minister Ameen said hosting an international tourism event of such significance in the Maldives was an honour for the country and provided an important opportunity to attract greater global attention to the destination. He expressed appreciation to the World Travel Awards for selecting the Maldives as the host destination, noting the value of bringing leading tourism and hospitality figures from across Asia, Oceania and the Indian Ocean to the country.
The World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony was held at CROSSROADS Maldives on 27 September, coinciding with World Tourism Day. The event brought together senior representatives from the international tourism, hospitality, aviation and travel sectors and placed the Maldives at the centre of regional tourism celebrations.
Reflecting on more than five decades of tourism development, Minister Ameen said the success achieved by the Maldives was built through the determination and vision of the industry’s pioneers, together with the contribution of generations of Maldivians and international partners who have worked across resorts, hotels, guesthouses, aviation, transport, tourism services and other areas supporting the sector.
Since the opening of the country’s first resorts in 1972, tourism has developed into the foundation of the Maldivian economy and has established the nation as one of the most recognised island destinations internationally. The country’s resort sector has played a central role in this transformation, developing a distinctive model of island hospitality that combines individual resort islands, high standards of service, privacy, natural surroundings and direct access to the Maldives’ marine environment.
Over the decades, the resort industry has continued to evolve beyond its traditional accommodation model. Resorts across the country today support a broad tourism ecosystem involving transportation, food supply, fisheries and agriculture, construction, engineering, technology, logistics, creative industries, excursions, diving, marine activities and a wide range of professional services. This expansion has increased opportunities for Maldivians to work, establish businesses and supply products and services to the tourism industry.
The continued development of resorts across different atolls has also contributed to distributing tourism-related economic activity beyond the capital region. New properties, upgraded resorts and expanding tourism infrastructure create demand for employees, local suppliers, transport operators and service providers, while also encouraging stronger connections between resorts and nearby island communities.
CROSSROADS Maldives, the venue for this year’s World Travel Awards ceremony, reflects the continuing evolution of the country’s tourism product. Located close to Velana International Airport, the multi-island integrated tourism destination brings together accommodation, leisure facilities, dining, retail, marina services and entertainment within a broader destination setting. Hosting one of the international tourism industry’s prominent award ceremonies at such a property also demonstrated the Maldives’ capacity to accommodate major international tourism and hospitality events alongside its established leisure tourism market.
Minister Ameen said the government is continuing efforts to diversify tourism under the vision of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, with greater emphasis being placed on ensuring that people from different sections of Maldivian society can benefit from the industry’s growth.
The Minister said the government’s tourism strategy includes strengthening international destination promotion, opening travel links to additional destinations and expanding the range of tourism products available across the Maldives. Diversification is expected to create opportunities beyond conventional resort employment by enabling more entrepreneurs, communities and businesses to participate in tourism-related economic activity.
Greater connectivity is also an important part of this strategy. Expanding air links and increasing access to international markets can support established resort destinations while also creating opportunities for emerging tourism areas across the atolls. Stronger connectivity can provide visitors with greater travel choices and support the development of guesthouses, resorts and tourism services in additional parts of the country.
The country’s resort sector remains a major pillar of this expansion. Continued investment in new resorts and improvements to existing properties are helping the Maldives respond to changing international traveller preferences while maintaining its reputation for premium island hospitality. Developments increasingly combine high-quality accommodation with distinctive architecture, personalised experiences, marine attractions and environmentally conscious operations suited to the natural characteristics of individual islands.
The geographic diversity of the Maldives also provides significant potential for the future growth of the sector. With tourism properties operating across numerous atolls, each destination can offer visitors different marine environments, island landscapes and local experiences while remaining connected to the internationally recognised Maldives tourism brand.
Minister Ameen also highlighted the importance of the coming year for the tourism industry, with the Maldives preparing to commemorate the 55th anniversary of tourism in 2027. Visit Maldives is expected to organise extensive activities throughout the year to celebrate the achievements of the sector and highlight its development from a small industry established in 1972 into a globally recognised tourism destination.
The anniversary will provide an opportunity to recognise the pioneers who established the industry, the Maldivian workforce that has sustained its development and the businesses and investors that have contributed to expanding the country’s tourism offering. It will also provide an international platform to showcase the next phase of tourism development as the Maldives continues to diversify its markets, products and investment opportunities.
The Maldives strengthened its international tourism standing at this year’s World Travel Awards by securing five major Indian Ocean honours. The country was named Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2026, Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination 2026, Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination 2026 and Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination 2026. Visit Maldives Corporation was also recognised as Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board 2026.
The Maldives secured the Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination title for the seventh consecutive year, continuing a record of recognition that reflects the country’s sustained international visibility and the competitiveness of its tourism industry.
The achievements extended beyond the national awards, with numerous Maldivian resorts, tourism businesses, airlines and hospitality brands also receiving recognition across Indian Ocean and Maldives categories. The results highlighted the breadth of the country’s tourism industry, ranging from luxury island resorts and family properties to diving, aviation, destination management, private-island experiences and other specialist tourism services.
The World Travel Awards, established in 1993, recognises achievements across the international travel, tourism and hospitality industries. Hosting its Asia, Oceania and Indian Ocean ceremony provided the Maldives with an additional global platform to showcase its tourism industry, destination infrastructure and hospitality sector to international industry leaders and partners.
As the Maldives approaches 55 years of tourism, the government’s focus on diversification, improved connectivity, international promotion and wider participation is expected to remain central to the industry’s next stage of development. Combined with continued investment in resorts and tourism infrastructure, these efforts are aimed at ensuring that tourism growth generates opportunities across communities and businesses while strengthening the Maldives’ longstanding position in the global travel market.
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