The tourism ministry has announced that existing rules on guesthouses would be strengthened to launch the new homestay tourism model, in which guests share a household with a local of the place to which they are visiting.
The tourism ministry’s senior executive director, Ali Razzan, remarked during a press conference to transmit information on the introduction of homestay tourism that numerous easing have been granted to the guesthouse regulation in order to launch homestay tourism, including modifications made to allow visitors to stay in properties with more than one room occupied.
Furthermore, he stated that the revisions to the existing regulations will include tougher safeguards to protect tourists travelling for homestay tourism.
While noting that homestay tourism would be formally started in Dhiggaru, Meemu Atoll, he also mentioned that the island will have 50 rooms earmarked for local tourism beginning in January. He added that the council hoped to increase the number of rooms to 200 by the conclusion of their tenure.
Furthermore, Deputy Tourism Minister Assad Riza stated that various institutions warned about the harmful impact of the introduction of guesthouses on resorts, but that it has only proven profit.
Assad stated that the Guest House Association now supports the introduction of homestay tourism and does not believe it will have any negative consequences.
He also said that even with the arrival of new kinds of tourism in the Maldives, the “one island, one resort” concept will be maintained.
According to Assad, the homestay tourism idea is a better option for travelers who cannot afford to stay in resorts or guesthouses in the Maldives.
