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MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND CIVIL AVIATION
REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES
Message from the Minister of Tourism & Civil Aviation,
on the occasion of the World
Environment Day 2006
As we mark the World Environment Day
today, I wish to recognize the dedication of all stakeholders
in tourism industry to protect and preserve our environment
which we treasure. No doubt, the Maldives is blessed with a
unique environment – a natural wonder! It is central to all
what we have to offer in our industry and its preservation
is vital to the industry’s sustainability. On this day, I salute
and thank all the resorts, hotels, tourist vessels and the
individuals in the industry, for their tireless efforts to preserve the
environment.
Let me also take this opportunity to mention new environment
related initiatives the Ministry is
launching this World Environment Day.
I. The “Clean beaches, clean seas: Think Tourism” media
campaign.
It is designed to minimize, if not prevent, the
irresponsible practice of dumping waste into seas,
lagoons and beaches of the Maldives. Resorts and individuals
have increasingly raised this as a
concern, that loosing the purity of our beaches will
eventually lead to destroying the images of
Maldives – a clean environmental heaven. We listened to your
concern and designed a three
month print and electronic based media campaign that will be
launched with the national
Environment Day Program, which is expected at a later
date.
II. Environment regulation for tourist resorts.
We have drafted a regulation that will guide the industry’s
environmental protection and
preservation efforts. We have shared the draft of this
regulation with all resorts and key
stakeholders recently, and we thank all those who submitted
their comments. This regulation
will also be launched soon, and the draft regulation is
available at
www.maldivestourism.gov.mv. You may still provide your
comments before it is finalized.
As in the past, I trust that we would receive your full
support and assistance in making the above
mentioned initiatives successful. Once again, I extend my
best greetings of the Day and look forward
to working with you to protect and preserve our environment.
Together, we can make a difference!
Yours sincerely,
Mahmood Shougee
Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation
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