President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has called on German investors to expand their engagement in the nation’s tourism sector, highlighting new opportunities as the island arcipelego prepares for long term growth under its Vision 2040 strategy.
Speaking at the Maldives–Germany Business Roundtable in Berlin, President Muizzu described Germany as a key partner in the development of Maldivian tourism, noting the longstanding role played by German tour operators, investors and financial institutions in building confidence in the sctor.
He said tourism remains central to the Maldivian economy but stressed the need to move beyond traditional models towards more sustainable and diversified offerings. The President pointed to initiatives such as Project Ayla, a new sustainable township development, as an example of how the Maldives is seeking to align tourism growth with environmental protection, innovation and sustainability.
President Muizzu also announced that 2027 has been designated as “Visit Maldives Year”, inviting German businesses to take part in destination promotion and new investment opportunities. He said the Maldives aims to position itself not only as a premium travel destination, but also as a testing ground for sustainable solutions that could be replicated in island and coastal economies worldwide.
The roundtable heard that recent economic reforms, including improvements to financial systems, digital public services and foreign exchange circulation, have helped boost investor confidence. The President said official reserves had reached a historic high and fiscal discipline remained a core government priority.
Tourism and environmental initiatives were further outlined in presentations by Invest Maldives and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, while German companies shared perspectives on potential partnerships.
The event concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Visit Maldives and DERTOUR Deutschland GmbH, one of Europe’s largest travel and tourism groups, aimed at strengthening cooperation in destination promotion and marketing.
Officials said the agreement reflects growing momentum in Maldives–Germany tourism relations, as the Maldives seeks to attract high-value, sustainable investment ahead of the Visit Maldives Year in 2027.