Revival of Lanka tourism in peace time and the Maldives

An editorial in Sri Lanka’s Daily News online version titled 'Reviving Tourism' talks in detail about the importance of reviving their tourism industry now that the war is all but over, thanks to the brilliant work of President Rajapakse and his administration. Peace in Lanka is very welcome news for everyone in the region, especially for thousands of Maldivians who see Lanka as their second home.

"Even the Maldives one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, has moved beyond its beaches to promote new concepts to attract more tourists. Incidentally, a large bulk of tourists who used to visit Sri Lanka shifted base to Maldives during the war years. We should now try to get them back adopting a new sales pitch, with the freeing of the country from terrorism." the editor noted in his argument for the need to revive the tourism industry of Sri Lanka.

Being their neighbour and probably their best friend, we of course, wish them the very best and much prosperity but this issue of competition is something that will have an impact on our tourism industry. There is no doubt about the fact that our tourism industry had indirectly benefitted from the unrest and civil war in Sri Lanka over the last 30 or so years. Sri Lanka is if you like, a real gem of beauty and tranquillity. It is blessed with such natural wonders that many nations in the region can only dream of. So, a real boost of tourism industry of Sri Lanka is inevitable, now that they have peace. In a way, perhaps it falls on us to help them in their endeavour to expand their tourism industry because there is plenty of scope and no shortage of people wanting to travel abroad for their holidays. We must also not forget the important contribution of Sri Lankan national airline in the expansion of our tourism industry. Now is the time to payback our dues and show our appreciation.

Of course, we wish them luck in that but this is something that we have to be prepared for. The top brass in our marketing sphere of the tourism industry of the Maldives must think long and hard about how best we can withstand this shock, especially in a time where the industry is on a 'nose-dive' as a result of the global economic downturn. Perhaps we should develop more products, such as an archaeological tour and incorporate more cultural aspects to our tourism packages. We could even introduce fishing holidays to the East. People in Japan would love to experience the traditional and cultural aspects of our fishing method.

Maldives tourism industry is looked on by big players in the region, including Thailand. The development of the industry over the past three decades have become the envy of many countries who want to tap into the gold pot of the travel industry. A new book titled 'Services trade in South Asia' also recongises the Maldives achievement in the sector.

Sri Lanka has everything we have and much more. They have beautiful beaches, splendid natural habitats including mountains, rivers and forests. In addition, they have far better infrastructures to service the sector. Hence, they could easily become the most sought after destination in Asia.

So, it is time to think and find new ways of sustaining the demand for the Maldives holidays.

(Review by Dhivehi Observer Editorial Team http://doreview.blogspot.com/2009/06/revival-of-lanka-tourism-in-peace-time.html)

We should perhaps buckle out seatbelts for a turbulent ride towards an uncertain future

The way that the current political map of Maldives is being shaped, I believe that very soon this could spill into something ugly. The Majlis is so polarized between the two leading parties (MDP and DRP), it is virtually impossible to achieve any meaningful legislation to get us out of the current economic woes.
1. DRP and PA seem to be hell bent on weakening and discrediting the government. They seem to have the aim of changing our form of government into a parliamentary democracy so that (Gayyoom’s younger brother and head of PA) Yamin could one day become Prime Minister.
2. DRP and PA also seem to share Gayyoom’s ambition of promoting his younger son (Gassaan) as a future President or Prime Minister.
3. Any attempt to summon ex-president Gayyoom to the Presidential Commission investigating past frauds could lead to violent confrontations. If the government persists in bringing Gayyoom to justice the situation could lead to the President using his power to enforce 144 and impose temporary martial law.
4. DRP is also getting help from some “independent” MPs such as (Kutti) Nasheed in undermining the relationship between the military (MNDF) and the government. These attempts could eventually lead to a reversing of the democratization process of the country.
I do not believe that this country could achieve anything good as long as Gayyoom and Yamin and their cronies have a say about our future. The best service that Gayyoom could do his country at present would be to retire from politics and let us fend for ourselves. If that doesn’t happen then we should buckle out seatbelts for a turbulent ride towards an uncertain future.

We should not let the government or MNDF or anyone else “rape” our dreams by “raping” Gan!

Is it true that the government is getting ready to secretly give two thirds of Addu Atoll Gan to the Maldives National Defense Force? There has been no official confirmation of such a thing but many Adduans now believe that President Nasheed’s government is secretly liaising with Mohamed Naseer the State Minister for Southern Province and senior MNDF officers, to give away a large chunk of Gan to MNDF as part of MNDF’s southern army base.
MNDF’s Commander for Southern Area (Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Didi) was reported to have denied these claims; but he said that a large plot of land formerly assigned for an industrial factory has now been “bought” by MNDF. These quotes goes to prove that there is something hidden from the public!
Hundreds of Adduans have now signed a petition that is being prepared to be submitted to the President, asking President Nasheed to stop this if it were true. Adduans see Gan as the industrial and economic “heart” of Southern Province and they do not want Gan to be “raped” like this.
I would give my support (for what it’s worth) to those Adduans who are concerned about this “dangerous” scenario. Gan is not only part of the heritage of the Southern atolls but it is part of the country’s heritage and most definitely it is connected to the economic aspirations and dreams of the Southerners.
Today I heard a person from Huvadhoo Atoll saying that the government will not expand Gan Airport, but instead develop a brand new international airport at Huvadhoo Atoll and use Gan as a military base. This would be a nail on the coffin of us Adduans. Where is the yacht mariner promised to Gan? Where is the proper international airport promised at Gan? Where is the golf course we so often dreamed about?
It’s easy to say: “over my dead body”! Indeed if this were true, the government can “rape” Gan in this manner only over the collect “dead body” of all Adduans!

Gayyoom talking against human rights abuses is like Pamela Anderson talking against artificial breast enlargement!

In a speech to the Muslim world recently, US President Obama said: “...there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once (when they are) in power; they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others."

This statement reminds us of our ex-president Gayyoom - who was ruthless during his 30-years of power – who is now asking the current government to be more democratic and fair. Gayyoom talking against human rights abuses is like Pamela Anderson talking against artificial breast enlargement!

Please! For God’s sake stop your crocodile tears and pretensions. You trampled all human rights when you were in power. Now, don’t lecture us on democracy and freedoms and fairness. We have better things to do than listen to your hypocritical ramblings.

Gayyoom says that there’s no democracy in the country now that he is no longer President! What a joke. He says that everyone is now scared of being arrested and summoned to the police at any time. Well, Gayyoom and his partners-in-crime maybe losing sleep over this fear. We were scared of such things when you were in power. So stop generalizing your fears into a national phobia!

I have to repeat my previous stament again. Indeed, Gayyoom talking against human rights abuses is like Pamela Anderson talking against artificial breast enlargement!

I do not support a block vote!

The two leading parties has been locking horns for two days now, deliberating on whether to take a block vote for the names proposed for the cabinet or whether top vote for the three candidates separately. President Mohamed Nasheed submitted Mahmoud Razee for the post of civil aviation minister, former speaker of parliament Mohamed Shihab for home minister and prominent lawyer Husnu Suood for attorney general.

Members of the Parliament have still not come to an agreement on whether to vote on all three together or separately. Even when President Nasheed’s initial cabinet was approved by the Parliament on a block vote, I remained an opponent of the block vote and I still remain that way.

Though an MDP member, I cannot blindly agree with all the stands taken by the party. I have to say that one cannot buy a sack of potatoes if five of the 50 potatoes are rotten. When you recruit 10 staff for a company you do not interview and recruit them as a block. You interview the 10 people separately and you recruit them separately.

I believe that Gayyoom and his party could well have tricks up their sleeve, but that is no excuse to do things in undemocratic ways.

Yes, I would say that it would be an undemocratic thing to take a block vote when approving members for the cabinet. This one can be good and this one can be ok and that one could be fine and the other one could be inappropriate! One just can’t decide on this as a whole. I think it’s a ridiculous debate which is going on at the Parliament just now. Is this what we are paying them millions for? To engage in this sort of childish banter?