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| Former MP & Cabinet Minister, Dr. Abdulla Mausoom |
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Adam Mohamed: According to my knowledge after you spent around 9 years in civil service sector, during the year 2008, then President Mr. Maumoon appointed you as the Tourism Minister & later again your position was shifted to Environment Minister. What made you enter the political arena and how?
Dr. Abdulla Mausoom: I made an entry to the political landscape because I wanted to be engaged in the democratic movement, and wanted to reform the government within.
Adam Mohamed: You were the Ex-MP for Kelaa constituency of the 17th parliament of Maldives. How would you judge your performance as an MP & what would you say are the biggest achievements within your term; in terms of what you have accomplished for your constituency?
Dr. Abdulla Mausoom: I performed to the best of my ability & I think I've achieved best in attendance which made my phone number public and ensured each and every call to my phone was answered. I established and ran a Clubhouse (place for admin support and socializing) for constituents in Male, built a small a social house at Vashafaru; submitted an Anti-Money Laundering Bill; was the President of Maldives Chinese parliament Friendship Group & made the group very active; and as for the last I remained in the Party DRP from beginning till the end of the 5 years tenure.
Adam Mohamed: Most Maldivian citizens do not consider parliamentarians as noble persons. As an Ex-MP, what do you think is the main reason for this belief?
Dr. Abdulla Mausoom: I believe the main reason for this as Party shifting of some MP's under suspicious circumstances; and acquiring wealth beyond the limits of their remunerations so this makes people believe that MP's get funds in unethical ways.
Adam Mohamed: When you were the MP for Kelaa constituency in an interview given to local media, you said that you will not move away from politics. You also said that you are not sure whether you’ll contest for the 18th parliament unless there is a need from a particular political affiliation. What was that “particular political affiliation” you were talking about & do you still believe that you are an active member of local politics?
Dr. Abdulla Mausoom: Due to the reasons I mentioned for the question 3 (as all the MPS, were getting labelled as corrupt, without exception), by mid 2012, I decided not to run for the 18th parliament; but I wanted to be engaged in politics in other ways. That political affiliation was referring to possible affiliation by major parities and going for a Parliamentary System.
Adam Mohamed: You took the position of the General Manager of Sun Island Resort and Spa, a luxury resort owned by a business tycoon as the parliamentary election 2014 was up ahead. You were the sitting MP for Kelaa constituency of the 17th parliament then. After the news was reported by local media, you said that tourism has always been very close to your heart. Why did you decided to move back to the tourism industry while at the same time you claimed that you got party tickets to contest in the parliament?
Dr. Abdulla Mausoom: I was never away from Tourism, and was in Tourim Consultancy and Training , but for ethical reasons I was not engaged in Tourism related consultancy for 2 years after I left Tourism Ministry. Taking the job of General Manager of Sun Island was to experience the policies that we formulated in action; and also serve Villa Company Chairman Mr. Qasim Ibrahim as a goodwill gesture from my part. I was the first Villa Scholar, of The Villa Foundation's Villa Scholarship Scheme that funded my PhD Studies.
Adam Mohamed: During July 2008, President Mr. Maumoon appointed you as the Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation after then Tourism Minister, Dr. Mahmoud Shaugy resigned from the post. Dr. Shaugee departed with a word of warning for Gayoom’s government, reiterating the plan to lease 31 new islands was not something he believes is in the interests of the tourism industry and would be outside the 3rd Tourism Master plan. What made you accept the portfolio as the Tourism Minister, while there was controversy regarding the 3rd Tourism Master plan within the policy level of the government?
Dr. Abdulla Mausoom: There was no controversy on 3rd Tourism master Plan. I lead the formulation of 3rd Tourism master Plan; it had Dr. Shaugy's full involvement and endorsement too. But leasing islands in access was not favored unless related support structures (specially airport and air links) and domestic travel networks are established; as it would create an in balance between demand ans supply.
Adam Mohamed: The Maldivian authorities through an amendment to the Maldives Tourism Act have begun implementing a new Green Tax at US$6 per tourist bed effective 1st November 2015. As An Ex-Environment Minister, do you believe the green tax could protect or be a help to the Maldives’ fragile environment?
Dr. Abdulla Mausoom: Green tax essentially brought back the repealed bed tax. Its funds need to be directly pegged to environmental initiatives whether it's private or government in order for the green tax funds to be utilized in a responsible way.
Adam Mohamed: In your opinion, under President Yameen’s administration are the institutions of governance of this country effectively guaranteeing the right to health, adequate housing, sufficient food, quality education, fair justice and personal security?
Dr. Abdulla Mausoom: I agree that the development speed is admirable; yet there is too much room to speculate on corruption and social injustice
Adam Mohamed: Although tourism has been a major economic sector in the Maldives since the launch of the first resort in Maldives in 1972, the sector now faces significant challenges as competition intensifies in the global tourism market. In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges facing our tourism industry?
Dr. Abdulla Mausoom: None-matching Human Resources; domestic transport linkup; yield management are the biggest challenges facing our tourism industry currently
Adam Mohamed: Tourism industry is mainly concerned with giving services to people who are going away from home, either on business trip or on a vacation. According to your experience in this field, how can Maldives improve or expand our tourism product and operations to meet future market demands & what is your message to talented locals working in this industry of Maldives?
Dr. Abdulla Mausoom: Be an entrepreneur and start a tourism related business (but after a reliable feasibility study) ; and or get trained in a tourism sector field and be employable.
Note: Dr. Abdulla Mausoom holds a PhD in Sustainable Tourism Developement from University of Birmingham, UK & a Master of Science in Tourism & Hotel Management from University Of Ulster, Jordanstown, Belfast, UK. He was a former MP at the 17th Parliament of Maldives and filled the posts of Minister of Environment, Energy and Water; Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation; Director General of Maldives Tourism Promotion Board during the reign of Former President Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. With extensive experience in tourism and government leadership positions, Dr. Abdulla Mausoom is currently the General Manager of Sun Island Resort & Spa which is the largest tourist resort in Maldives.
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