The Third Annual Maldives Tourism Awards ceremony was held at Barceló Nasandhura Malé, honouring outstanding contributions to sustainability, community engagement, and human resource development in the tourism sector.

A total of 10 awards were presented to eight establishments for their achievements in staff wellbeing, human resource development, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.

The ceremony also paid tribute to former Minister of Tourism, the late Hassan Sobir (O.D.R.I.), and industry pioneer, the late Mohamed Umar Maniku (O.D.R.M.D.), for their significant contributions to the development of Maldives tourism. A moment of silence was observed in their memory.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim congratulated the award recipients and encouraged continued collaboration across the industry to sustain the Maldives’ position as a leading global destination. The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to sustainable growth, stating that efforts are underway to strengthen connectivity and institutional frameworks to support the tourism industry’s continued development.

Minister Thoriq also announced the introduction of new award categories for the next cycle, which will recognise contributions to women’s empowerment, promotion of local arts and crafts, and professional excellence.

For the 2024 awards, a total of 84 applications were received from 43 tourism facilities competing across 19 categories, including resorts, hotels, guesthouses, and tourist vessels. Evaluations were conducted by three independent panels comprising industry experts.

First launched in 2022, the Maldives Tourism Awards aims to highlight best practices and innovation within the tourism industry. This year’s ceremony marked the completion of the third award cycle, covering the period from June 2023 to May 2024.