Male’, Maldives -21st May 2026 – The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) convened the 4th edition of its Member Forum on 21st May 2026 at H. Meerumaa, Malé, bringing together a diverse gathering of policymakers, tourism stakeholders, industry experts, and development partners. Centered on the theme “Coastal Protection and Island Dynamics,” the forum underscored the growing urgency of safeguarding the Maldives’ fragile coastal ecosystems while advancing sustainable tourism development.
The event was further elevated by the presence of Hon. Minister Ali Shareef, Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, whose participation reflected strong governmental alignment with environmental resilience and adaptive coastal strategies.
The forum opened with a reflection on previous MATI discussions, revisiting key industry concerns and ongoing challenges that continue to shape the tourism sector. This set the stage for a series of expert presentations highlighting cutting-edge approaches to coastal management.
Coastal Assembly delivered an insightful session on the integration of artificial intelligence in shoreline management, exploring how smart technologies can enhance beach resilience and long-term sustainability. Meanwhile, LAMER (Land & Marine Environmental Resource Group Pvt Ltd) presented its work on numerical modelling techniques used in coastal protection and land reclamation, offering a scientific perspective on predictive tools and engineering solutions.
A central highlight of the forum was a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Ahmed Shaig of CDE Consulting. The panel featured industry leaders including Mr. Mohamed Aslam of LAMER, Mr. Mohamed Inaz of Nexia Maldives, and Mr. Asad Ali, Secretary General of MATI. Deliberations focused on regulatory frameworks, emerging technologies, and the importance of stronger collaboration between public institutions and the private sector in addressing coastal vulnerability.
An open discussion session allowed participants to further exchange perspectives on pressing industry concerns, fostering a collaborative atmosphere of problem-solving and innovation.
The forum concluded on a constructive note with a networking lunch, encouraging continued dialogue and partnership-building among attendees committed to the Maldives’ sustainable tourism future.
