Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) CEO and Managing Director Ibrahim Shiuree delivered a keynote address at the 2025 Tropical Coastal City Tourism Event in Sanya, held from 18–21 November 2025. Organised by the Sanya Tourism Board and supported by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the gathering convened global leaders and industry experts under the theme “Coastal Tourism: Symbiosis and Development of Nature and Culture.”
Representing the Maldives on the PATA Board, Mr. Shiuree offered perspectives shaped by the nation’s distinctive geography and decades of experience at the forefront of coastal tourism. With every Maldivian island naturally coastal and highly reliant on tourism, he noted that the country’s planning systems and resilience strategies provide valuable insights for other coastal cities navigating similar challenges.
He outlined several pillars behind the Maldives’ tourism success, including the pioneering single-island resort concept, structured tourism zoning, and the rapid rise of community-based guesthouse tourism. These developments, he added, are reinforced by continued investment in infrastructure, transportation, and essential public services. Sustainable growth, he emphasised, depends on balancing market demand with environmental stewardship and community wellbeing.
Climate resilience was a central element of his address. Mr. Shiuree highlighted the Maldives’ significant investments in coastal protection, elevated reclamation initiatives, and stringent environmental regulations governing tourism projects. He encouraged coastal cities to integrate climate considerations into long-term urban and tourism planning to safeguard economic stability and sustain investor confidence.
In closing, Mr. Shiuree observed that the future of coastal destinations will be shaped by strategic foresight, inclusive development models, and robust climate resilience. The event’s thematic tracks -Sustainable Tourism, High-End Tourism, and Indigenous Culture – further enabled delegates to explore Sanya’s coastal tourism landscape and exchange ideas influencing the next wave of tropical tourism development.
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