Ibrahim Shiury, Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), has stated that with the new international terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA), the number of tourists visiting the Maldives will significantly increase year by year. Shiury made this statement in a video post shared on social media regarding the new terminal. The construction of the new international terminal at Velana International Airport began in 2017. This international-standard terminal, developed with modern facilities, is a massive infrastructure project that will benefit the Maldivian economy in many ways. One of the areas that will see the most significant improvement due to this terminal is tourism.
The current terminal at VIA can serve 1.5 million people annually. However, more than 2 million tourists visit the Maldives each year. As a result, the existing terminal has been operating over capacity. The new terminal at Velana International Airport, which is now preparing to open, will solve this issue. With this terminal, services can be provided to 7 million passengers annually.
Various stakeholders in the tourism industry note that this will lead to a substantial increase in the number of tourists visiting the Maldives. Ibrahim Shiury, Managing Director of MMPRC, said that the new VIA terminal would create many opportunities for economic growth. He also highlighted that while 2 million tourists currently visit the Maldives, even more tourists will visit with the new terminal.
“I am confident that this terminal will be recognized at a global level. Tourists using this terminal will also have many international-standard experiences. Services will be enhanced,” said Shiury.
As preparations are underway to open the new terminal on the 26th of next month, coinciding with the 60th Independence Day, many senior officials, in addition to Shiury, have noted the advancements this will bring to the tourism industry.
Eight years have passed since the construction of the new terminal began, and the current government has given special priority to expediting the terminal’s work. After winning the 2023 presidential election, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, as the President-elect before taking the oath, visited to observe the progress of the terminal’s construction. He noted that with the terminal, the number of tourist arrivals would increase, and services would become more convenient.
Furthermore, as the President has now announced plans to develop halal tourism in the Maldives, experts in the industry continue to highlight that this will pave the way for the advancement of various types of tourism.
During the past year and a half of this government, under the President’s guidance, MACL has made significant efforts to expedite the terminal’s work. With these efforts, the terminal, which was initially scheduled to open in October this year, is now ready to open two months earlier. The newly developed international terminal is a large 78,000 square meter facility. This terminal will be used exclusively for international travel. Like the most modern airports, aero bridges will be used in this terminal.
