Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom has stated the support and involvement of women are needed for homestay tourism to become successful. He made the remarks in a meeting with members of the Laamu Atoll Council and Women's Development Committee (WDC) in Gan, Laamu Atoll.
The government is currently preparing to introduce homestay tourism in Dhiggaru, Meemu Atoll, in January next year.
During the meeting, Minister Mausoom briefed the councillors and WDC members on homestay tourism. The minister said Dhiggaru is a unique island and that the government expects successful results after introducing homestay tourism on the island. He detailed that Dhiggaru is a small island that relies on fishing and that the island has no guesthouses but has many young island residents who work in the tourism industry. He also said the island council also has members who are experienced in the tourism business, and that the island's unique natural beauty, culture, and the experience of island residents make Dhiggaru optimal for homestay tourism.
Additionally, Minister Mausoom said the success of homestay tourism also requires the support and involvement of women and that one of the goals of the project is for women to become actively involved in the tourism industry.
Homestay tourism is a popular form of hospitality and lodging whereby tourists share a residence with a local household in the country they are travelling to.
The government has been working to implement various forms of tourism in the Maldives including homestay, sports, and cultural tourism as well as meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) tourism.