Minister of Finance Ahmed Ameer has expressed airports in Maldives need to be operated as profit generating models.
Speaking on a programme aired on PSM News, Finance Minister Ameer revealed it is an aim of the administration to increase the tourist arrivals to the country to 3 million in the next 3 years. Therefore, the finance minister noted it is vital to establish domestic airports across the country to carry tourists from the main international airport. He said the domestic airports will develop with the increase in the number of tourists.
Noting the administration aims to increase the number of tourist beds in Maldives to 60,000, the finance minister said the administration will prioritise to introduce tourism to the atolls where currently no resorts are in operation. In this regard, he said tourism activities will be prioritised for the areas close to domestic airports.
Furthermore, the administration has tripled the budget to be spent on tourism promotion.