China & Maldives sign MoU on cooperation in tourism development
A forum on China-Maldives Tourism Cooperation was held in the Maldives on Tuesday, 3rd July 2018 to expand tourism ties between the two countries and attract more Chinese tourists to visit Maldives. Government officials and leading travel operators from both Maldives and China has attended the meeting.
“The contribution of Chinese tourists to the tourism industry of Maldives is considerable,” said Moosa Zameer, Tourism Minister of Maldives. “China stands first in the number of tourism arrivals in the past few years,” he added.
“This is a remarkable step in our efforts to increase the number of Chinese tourists and to strengthen the ties between the two countries. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, we aim to attract at least 1 million Chinese tourists per year in the coming five years. It will also attract more investors to Maldives,” said the minister.
Chinese Ambassador Zhang Lizhong said this forum was the first event co-organized by the tourism ministries of China and Maldives and it was an important measure enhance consensus of the two countries and deepen the cooperation in various fields including tourism.
The ambassador said China-Maldives cooperation has brought tangible benefits to the Maldivian people and it will benefit both the countries mutually.
“Most of Chinese tourists consider the Maldives as the first choice for vacation, family trip and honeymoon,” said Du Jiang, from China Ministry of Culture and Tourism
He said the China is willing to deepen industrial cooperation with the Maldives in the spirit of mutual benefit, openness and inclusiveness, provide policy, information and legal support for Chinese companies to make tourism investment and operate tourism business in the Maldives.
The forum was co-organized by the Maldives Tourism Ministry, China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Chinese Embassy in Maldives.
A Memorandum of Understanding between China Association of Travel Service and Maldives Association of Tourism Industry was signed during the meeting.
