The national airline, Maldivian, has introduced special fares aimed at strengthening local tourism.

Island Aviation, which operates the carrier, announced that it had revised its pricing strategy to encourage greater travel to the islands. The company stated that average fares have been reduced by 15 per cent for tourists travelling without the assistance of tour operators or travel agencies.

Island Aviation noted that the measure is an important step towards advancing local tourism, in line with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s pledge. The company expressed confidence that the lower fares would attract more visitors to the islands.

Maldivian operates the largest network of domestic flights in the country, while its boats currently connect 17 destinations across the archipelago.

The promotion of local tourism has been identified as a priority for the Government. The Administration has said it intends to expand the sector while allocating a share of the revenue to local councils, enabling them to play a greater role in island development. According to Government officials, discussions have already started on a proposal to grant 10 per cent of local tourism tax revenue to the councils.