Male’, Maldives, 25 August 2024 – Destination Future’s inaugural Future Summit, held on August 20, 2024, at Kurumba Maldives, the birthplace of Maldivian tourism, has concluded with notable success. The event, which drew a distinguished assembly of tourism pioneers, industry leaders, and stakeholders, featured notable attendees including Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and Managing Director of MMPRC, and Abdulla Ghiyas, Chairman of MMPRC.
The summit kicked off with a heartfelt inauguration by the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Ibrahim Faisal, who conveyed his appreciation: “Thank you to the incredible team and organizers of Destination Future. My sincere gratitude goes to all panelists, participants, and attendees for your insightful contributions. Together, we can work towards a more sustainable and innovative tourism industry.”
Dr. Simad Saeed, Managing Director of CDE Consulting, delivered a compelling keynote address titled “Brand Maldives, Today and Tomorrow – A Sustainability Perspective.” Dr. Saeed emphasized the necessity of integrating sustainability into tourism strategies, focusing on environmental protection, economic viability, and human capital development. He advocated for embedding tourism education in schools to create a new generation of informed and engaged citizens committed to sustainable tourism practices.
The summit featured several dynamic panel discussions. The first, moderated by Amjad Thaufeeg, Vice Chair of Destination Future, addressed the critical balance between tourism growth and sustainability. Panelists including Marteyne Van Well (Regional General Manager – Six Senses Maldives), Ahmed Jihad (Corporate General Manager of Cocoon), Dr. Simad Saeed, Ruth Franklin (Founder of Secret Paradise), and Fathimath Shaazleen (Resort Manager of Naladhu Private Island) shared insights on achieving growth while preserving the Maldives’ unique natural and cultural assets.
A second panel, moderated by Rifaa Saeed, Director of Sales & Marketing at Dusit Maldives, explored innovative strategies for reimagining destination marketing. Esteemed panelists such as Suresh Dissanayake (Assistant Vice President of Heritance Aarah and Adaaran Maldives), Ali Nihad (Area Director of Sales and Marketing at IHG Maldives), Aydin Yasayacak (CEO of Loti), and Nuaas Mohanmed (Cluster Director of Sales & Marketing, COMO Hotels & Resorts) discussed enhancing the Maldives’ brand positioning through digital marketing and cohesive brand messaging.
The third discussion, led by Inad Ibrahim, Director of Sales and Marketing at Oaga Art Resort, examined diversifying the Maldives’ appeal beyond the traditional sun, sand, and sea offerings. Panelists including Ibrahim Shiuree (CEO & MD of MMPRC), Abdulla Nabeel, Dr. Sunny Umar (Founder of Halal Travel Maldives), and Mark Eletr (General Manager of Holiday Inn Kandooma) explored strategies to attract diverse traveler segments and adapt to evolving travel trends.
A highlight of the summit was a presentation by Maldives Airports Company Limited, which showcased future developments in aviation and infrastructure, including the expansion of Velana International Airport’s international passenger terminal.
In his closing remarks, President of Destination Future, Mr. Hamza Saeed, called for a shift from experimentation to focusing on well-established strategies to ensure long-term success and stability in the tourism sector.
The summit was supported by key sponsors including Loti as the Exclusive Partner, Solarelle as the Exclusive Insurance Partner, Kurumba Maldives as the Exclusive Venue Partner, and Ooredoo Maldives as the Exclusive Digital Partner. Additional sponsors included Seguro Insurance, Pacific Technology, Astrabon, Arriva, Mihaaru, Travel Trade Maldives, Intour Maldives, Event Maldives, and Print Lab.
Looking ahead, the next Future Summit is scheduled for June 25, 2025, promising to build on this year’s successes and further advance the dialogue on the future of Maldivian tourism. A comprehensive report on the Future Summit 2024 will be published in the coming weeks, detailing the discussions and outcomes of this landmark event.
