The Maldives welcomes Chinese investment in the country’s resort industry, Maldives Ambassador to China Ahmed Latheef has told the Chinese newspaper Global Times.
Chinese visitors have eclipsed European arrivals as the country’s major tourism market this year, according to figures from the Maldives Tourism Ministry.
Latheef told the Global Times he welcomed investment from China in resorts to boost the development of local tourism, explaining that “the difficulty we have at the moment is that we do not have enough hotels or beds to cater to the growing market in China.”
“The Maldives and China have enjoyed excellent bilateral relations, and there are many areas that can be developed through Chinese involvement and engagement in the Maldives,” Latheef said. “We would welcome initiatives from Chinese investors in the development of tourist resorts.”
