The Maldives’ Ministry of Tourism has announced plans to conduct targeted inspections within the next two weeks to address the issue of illegal and unregistered guesthouses in popular local tourism areas. The initiative comes in response to concerns raised during a recent appearance by ministry officials before the parliament’s rules committee, where the safety and compliance of guesthouse operations were discussed.
State Tourism Minister Ahmed Nazim Mohamed, speaking before the committee, outlined the scope of the planned inspections. These efforts will be conducted in collaboration with local police and will focus on key regions, including Kaafu Atoll, Alif Alif Atoll, Alif Dhaal Atoll, and Vaavu Atoll. The inspections will prioritise compliance with safety standards for guesthouse operations to safeguard tourists.
The decision to intensify inspections follows reports of incidents involving guesthouses operating without valid licenses. Last month, a tourist tragically died while snorkelling at a guesthouse in AA. Rasdhoo, which was found to have an expired license at the time. Although the license was renewed shortly after, the incident highlighted critical gaps in the regulatory framework. A similar incident was reported in K. Maafushi, further prompting action.
Minister Nazim explained that only guesthouses officially registered in the ministry’s database are actively monitored. Establishments that operate without licenses often go undetected unless complaints or reports are submitted by local councils. This regulatory blind spot becomes apparent only after incidents occur, prompting the ministry to take retrospective action.
To address these challenges, the tourism ministry is currently pursuing legal action against unregistered operators. Minister Nazim also revealed plans to update the safety standards regulations initially issued in April 2020. While guesthouses were originally given a six-month window to comply, deadlines were extended indefinitely in August 2021. The revised regulations, which are in the final draft stage, are expected to be reissued within the next three months with new guidelines aimed at enhancing the safety and security of tourists.
In addition to regulatory updates, the ministry is collaborating with the health ministry to train residents in guesthouse areas in essential skills such as CPR. Further efforts include integrating resort clinics into the national healthcare system, enabling clinic doctors to access expert guidance during emergencies. This move aims to improve the level of support available to tourists, particularly in remote locations.
These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to strengthening oversight of the guesthouse sector and ensuring that safety standards are maintained across the tourism industry.
