The tourism industry is bearing the brunt of President Mohamed Muizzu's remarks calling for Iran to intensify its attacks on Israel and the United States.
At a press conference at the President's Office on March 23, Muizzu said he supports targeting US military bases in Gulf Arab states without harming the citizens. He also called for attacks on Israel "day and night."
Manager-level employees of two resorts have spoken to Adhadhu about the issue. They spoke on condition of anonymity to protect their employment interests and said the biggest concern is the changing perception of tourists.
"The President's remarks make guests think the Maldives is not stable. There were many questions from guests yesterday. Is it true that the President said that? Then the butlers have to say something to fix it," a senior employee of a five-star resort said.
According to the Tourism Ministry website, there are currently 171 resorts and 849 guesthouses operating in the country. The tourism industry accounts for 28 percent of GDP and 62 percent of foreign exchange earnings.
The tourism industry offers the largest number of jobs as well. There are 52,218 employees in the resorts alone. Of these, 15,041 are Maldivians.
Another resort manager's biggest concern was the timing of Muizzu's remarks. He believes it will pose additional challenges to revive tourism at a time when the industry is in decline due to the war.
"Guests will see what is in the media. Based on that, they will frame their opinions about the Maldives. Everyone checks the news on their phones before leaving for a country. Yesterday, the President did not call for peace. We are working to assure guests through our staff members."
