Addu City, Maldives – The Minister of Tourism of Maldives Dr. Abdullah Mausoom has revealed that efforts are being directed towards reemploying the workers in Addu who faced unemployment during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
In this regard, the Minister, speaking at a ceremony in Addu on Monday said that it is an aim of the incumbent government to reopen both Shangri-la and Canareef resorts in the city – both which employed hundreds of Adduans prior to their closure during the pandemic – so that all those who were unemployed during the pandemic receive their jobs back.
We are working rigorously. God willing, the matter of both resorts will be settled within this year.
Minister of Tourism of Maldives, Dr. Abdullah Mausoom
He further said that he wishes he could give a specific date on which the matter would be resolved, but highlighted that it is difficult to do so at the moment, adding that there are many Addu natives working at the Ministry of Tourism, which would hopefully aid in the success of achieving the goal.
The Minister also added it is a vision of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to see tourism flourishing at the two ends of the country – North and South.
One reason is that the Male’ area is now at full capacity. It has become too congested that even a new terminal or new runway wouldn’t do the trick. The tourists who we aim to bring in 2022, which will be the golden year of tourism in the country, would not be able to arrive there.
Minister of Tourism of Maldives, Dr. Abdullah Mausoom
One of the main industries which suffered due to the Covid-19 pandemic in the Maldives was the tourism industry, which got effectively shut down entirely. During this time, all three tourist resorts in Addu shut down, including Shangri-la and Canareef, which announced their closure indefinitely, leaving many unemployed.
