The 34th Annual General Meeting of the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), which drew together a hundred members, was held on 19th February 2024. The day’s proceedings commenced with a warm speech delivered by Mr. Mohamed Umar, the Chairman of MATI, who also served as the session’s facilitator.
The agenda featured a speech by Mr. Ahmed Nazeer, the Secretary-General, the review and approval of the 33rd AGM minutes, the approval of the 2023 budget, the appointment of auditors for 2024, the review and adoption of the annual report and financial reports, the welcoming of new members, and the election of executive board members to fill the two open positions (by-election).
The following subjects were discussed in the member discussion session: the government’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2023; the generation of renewable energy in the tourism industry; developments regarding the new terminal of Velana International Airport; employment issues; the Industrial Relations Act and trade unions; environmental conservation; and the importance of developing and carrying out effective management plans for protected areas such as the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA).
The forum was joined by the Ministers of Tourism, Hon. Ibrahim Faisal, and Economic Development and Trade, Hon. Mohamed Saeed, after the formal proceedings. The Ministers answered questions from the members after making their statements. Members had the opportunity to speak with the Ministers face-to-face during this session and learn about important business subjects. The questions centered on the outlook for the economy, future goals for expansion, and current problems that the tourism industry is facing.
There was also a video presentation that covered the vast amount of work that MATI accomplished in 2023. The success of the tourism industry over the previous five years as well as the sector’s present and future potential for human resources were also discussed in the video.
The Secretary-General acknowledged the positive start to the year in terms of arrivals as he concluded his concluding comments, which emphasized the value of teamwork in tackling industry difficulties and urged increased cooperation among industry players, bringing an end to the 34th Annual General Meeting by MATI.
