Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates,
It is with much pleasure that I address the 10th meeting of the World Tourism Organisation’s Commission for South Asia. Although the Maldives has not yet become a member of the WTO, you have graciously accepted our invitation to hold this meeting in this country, and by doing so you have given us the opportunity of holding its sessions, very aptly, in a relaxing holiday atmosphere. I wish you all a pleasant stay in the Maldives. I am sure you will carry back with you delightful memories of the simple and unsophisticated charm of our tropical isles.
As I greet all the participants in this meeting on behalf the Government and the people of the Maldives, I am particularly happy to welcome the Deputy Secretary-General of the WTO, Mr. Rajesh Rawatt, and the WTO Regional Secretary for the Commission for South Asia, Mr. Mano Handy.
November 1980 is indeed a very eventful month for the Maldives. Today, the 10th meeting of the WTO’s Commission for South Asia is being inaugurated in this pleasant island resort. On the 11th of this month, we will be marking an important national occasion – the Republic Day. Two days prior to that, we will be celebrating an even more momentous occasion – the beginning of a new century of the Muslim calendar. The advent of the 15th century of Hijra consummates fourteen centuries of the glory of Islam – the divine inspiration which has given the world a splendid civilisation based on the noblest ideals of tolerance, compassion and human equality.
This great historic event does not concern the Muslim world alone because the dramatic resurgence of Islam in the second half of the 20th century has once again made this great universal religion, as it had continued to be for over a thousand years, a vibrant force in international affairs. There can be no relaxation of tension in the world, and certainly no peace in the Middle East, unless the Muslim nations, which occupy an area of vital strategic importance and possess great sources of wealth and power, are allowed to achieve their just and legitimate aspirations.
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates,
International tourism is a dynamic facet of the changing social and economic system of the world. Indeed, tourism today has become a very important industry on the national level of many countries as well as on the regional and international levels, because it not only concerns the socio-economic sphere of each nation but also influences the bilateral and multilateral relationships between states.
Moreover, tourism is no more a leisurely pastime enjoyed exclusively by the privileged elite. It has certainly become a versatile industry the benefits of which are shared by millions of people of different races and cultures all over the world. I am sure that you will all share my view that at a time when concerted efforts are being made to establish more economic and social equality between the countries of the world, and within the countries themselves, regional and international tourism can offer a unique contribution to the cause of promoting equality and understanding between nations.
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates,
Tourism, which has gained considerable momentum in the past three decades, is an industry which demands the best utilization of resources and the acquisition of professional knowledge and commercial expertise. Therefore, the exchange of ideas and information and the conveyance of skills pertaining to this trade are essential if all the necessary human and physical resources are to be fully utilized for the global promotion of tourism. The transfer of technology between the industrialized and developing nations in the preparation and the implementation of national and regional tourism projects is also a necessary exercise in the successful development of an international tourism strategy.
The existence of an effective international information mechanism is a first step towards the attainment of these objectives. I am happy to state therefore that the Maldives fully supports the call for the establishment of a world-wide tourist information system. Such a system would conserve precious time and effort and also assist the developing countries on the road to self sufficiency in tourist management and related matters.
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates,
As all the distinguished delegates present here today deliberate on the important issues before them, the Maldives is poised on the threshold of a new era in her tourism. The Hulule International Airport Project, which will open the country to direct international flights, is nearing completion. On the other hand, a consultant group has been engaged to draw up a master plan for the expansion of tourism in the Maldives. The opening of the international airport and the planned expansion of tourist facilities in the country will hopefully give a major boost to our tourist business. Despite its short history in the Maldives, tourism has already established itself as a key contributor to the country’s foreign exchange earnings. Any development of this sector will therefore accelerate the growth of our national economy.
However, meeting the demands of promoting this nascent but highly promising industry in the Maldives is fraught with numerous obstacles many of which may be unique to this country of far-flung islands with severely restricted economic resources.
One of the foremost tasks besetting our tourism sector is the problem of finding ways and means of meeting the necessary expenses for the maintenance of these sun-soaked islands at a high standard that would, in addition to their natural beauty and serenity, provide leisure and comfort to the winter-weary tourists. The preservation of our magnificent seascape is also an extremely difficult task. This problem is of particular importance to the tourist industry in the Maldives because our beautiful waters may be regarded as the greatest attraction this garland of islands – as the original name Mal Deep denotes – has to offer visitors.
These and other problems which inhibit the speedy development of our tourism sector need careful study to arrive at a realistic assessment of our tourism potential. Immediate as well as long-term solutions will have to be found to all these difficulties in order to ensure a rapid and vigorous growth of this vital industry to our economy. In this respect, we hope to receive the advise and help of the World Tourism Organisation after the Maldives become a member of that body, and more particularly, the assistance and co-operation of the Commission for South Asia.
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates,
As this meeting proceeds during a period of great historic importance to the Muslim World, a small but honest fraction of which we are, I wish on behalf of my Government every success to your deliberations. I am confident that the outcome of this meeting will pave the way for enhancing the regional development of tourism in all its varied aspects. I am also hopeful that your decisions will take into account not only the economic gains associated with the tourism industry, but more significantly, the spirit of propagating peace and tolerance between different nations and cultures and the seeking of unity within diversity.