The government has collected $5 million (MVR77.1 million) from the tourism industry in the past 17 days, Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal said on Saturday.
Addressing the nation at Independence Day celebrations on Friday night, President Mohamed Muize said the state had suffered losses of $513 million due to the previous administration’s negligence.
The president said this money alone would be enough to solve the debt problems facing the Maldives.
Faisal told Sangu TV on Saturday that he was working with resorts to begin recovering money owed to the state.
Faisal said the state should receive $78.5 million from existing resorts. He said the funds were being raised through discussions with tourism operators in a friendly atmosphere.
He said the state has received $5 million so far by sending notices to resorts that owe money.
The Minister said:
- $173 million has not been received from the islands on which the resorts are being built.
- The government will provide businesses with easy means to make installment payments.
- If the money is not paid within the agreed upon time frame, the government will go to court to recover the money.
“Right now we are working on recovering the funds. The government has raised $5 million in the last 17 days. We are trying to put in place a mechanism whereby operators can repay the funds within five years at the latest. This money should be paid to the government,” Faisal said.
The government will try to recover money owed to the state from the tourism industry through strict regulations, Faisal added.
- Due to the negligence of tourism ministers of successive governments, the tourism industry has not received such a large amount of funding.
- Resort owners were given relief without any restrictions.
“I am not interested in this. I dare to do this. This is not my money or President Muiz’s money. This is the people’s money. So it is against my oath for me to allow people’s money like this,” Faisal said.
Speaking at an Independence Day ceremony on Friday, President Muizz said the government had begun efforts to recover debts owed to the country.
