Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef said last night at the opening ceremony of the International Forum on Integrity that developing systems that protect whistleblowers, empower those who speak out, should be the standard practice in building a moral and ethical tourism industry. The ceremony was held at Villa Nautica.
Speaking at this ceremony, Vice President Latheef said the fight against corruption and maintaining ethics in the tourism industry is a moral duty that safeguards the rights of every citizen.
He added that anti-corruption bodies must remain independent, adequately resourced, and free from political interference.
According to the President’s Office, Vice President Latheef highlighted that this year’s theme, “Strengthening Integrity and Combating Corruption in the Tourism Sector”, holds particular relevance for the Maldives. He underlined the importance of integrity and ethical tourism in building investor confidence and public trust. He also said the role of transparency and accountability in promoting sustainability, enhancing the Maldives’ global reputation, and driving long-term growth, especially as the country continues to position itself as a leading tourism destination.
The Vice President also noted that governments, the private sector, civil society and international organisations play a vital role in fostering capacity building and innovation, and it is important that these parties work together. He stressed the importance of clear policies, robust monitoring, effective enforcement, and regular evaluation to ensure continuous improvement in anti-corruption practices.
The two-day forum was jointly organised by the Maldives’ Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha). Over 180 representatives from Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) states joined the discussions surrounding strategies to strengthen the integrity of the tourism industry, identifying regulatory vulnerabilities and formulating policies to ensure the sector’s stability.
Nazaha is the Saudi Arabian regulatory body charged with carrying out the mandates outlined in their Criminal Procedure Law in relation to curbing crimes such as bribery and abuse of authority.
Mazin bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous, the President of Nazaha, presented the Vice President with a token of appreciation, recognising the enduring friendship and shared commitment to cooperation between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia at this forum.
