The Special Cabinet Committee, formed in response to escalating tensions in the Middle East and the Gulf region, has reported progress in overcoming the resulting tourism downturn, at a press briefing held at the President's Office this afternoon.
Speaking at the briefing, the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Mohamed Ameen, said tourist arrivals had fallen by 22.5 per cent in March and 26.5 per cent in April compared to the same periods last year, with the decline narrowing markedly to 8.9 per cent so far in May. Minister Ameen described this reduction in the deficit, under such circumstances, as a success, and attributed the achievement to the strategic foresight of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, alongside the collaborative efforts of relevant ministries, state institutions, and the travel and tourism industry. He highlighted in particular the decision to acquire wide-body aircraft for the national airline, Maldivian, noting that this has significantly strengthened the nation's independent capacity to mitigate economic losses during a sensitive global crisis.
Addressing concerns within the fishing industry, the Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, reassured the public of ongoing efforts to enable fishermen to take to the seas, highlighting measures being taken to resolve fuel shortages. He noted that, in line with the President's pledge, fuel skids have been established in every atoll and are already yielding benefits. While acknowledging that the State Trading Organisation (STO) continues to face logistical challenges in distributing fuel to the atolls, Minister Shiyam gave assurances that work is underway to resolve such bottlenecks.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Iruthisham Adam, affirmed that the Ministry is closely monitoring the conflict and tracking the status of Maldivian citizens residing in affected countries to ensure they receive all necessary assistance. She added that diplomatic channels are being actively utilised to engage bilateral partners and international organisations in efforts to cushion economic shocks.
The Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises and Chair of the Committee, Moosa Zameer, emphasised that the Government is fully committed to ensuring an uninterrupted supply of fuel, staple foods, and essential commodities. He noted that, even during this challenging period, the Government's efforts to rationalise expenditure and manage debt obligations have stabilised national debt at a sustainable level.