Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Yumna Maumoon has stated the shutdown of tourism amid the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the work of artists, as well as the culture and heritage sector of the Maldives.
The minister made the statement while speaking at the virtual meeting organised by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), taken part by heritage ministers of 130 different countries. During the 8-hour meeting, countries shared details of the challenges faced by preserving culture and heritage amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the challenges faced by local artists during the crisis.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Yumna said the arts, culture, and heritage of the Maldives is deeply connected with tourism, as the revenue generated from the sector is largely based on tourists. The minister said the shutdown of tourism amid the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the work of artists, as well as the culture and heritage sector. As such, she noted the pandemic has forced the closure of museums and heritage sites, while creative and performing artists who were generating income through resorts have been denied their income.
The heritage minister noted the government has introduced relief packages for individuals whose sources of income have been blocked due to the pandemic. She added artists have also been displaying their work on online platforms, while information on culture and heritage of the country is also being shared online.
During the virtual meeting, countries discussed ways to work together in order to overcome the crisis and to further develop the sectors of arts, culture, and heritage.