On 25th January 2025, the Maldives Travel Conference 2025 (MTC 2025), Women’s Edition was hosted and ended in Addu by the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO). Equator Village in Addu City served as the event’s venue partner and hosted the conference. BCC then arranged a free financial literacy course.
MTC 2025, which was endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Social and Family Development, MMPRC / Visit Maldives, the Addu City Council, the National Hotels and Guesthouses Association of Maldives (NHGAM), and several women’s associations (Addu Women’s Association, Veshisaafu, WDC Addu City, Southern Community Empowerment Association of Maldives, Women in Management Maldives, Women on Board, Women Entrepreneurs Association Maldives, and Association of Lady Entrepreneurs) aimed to address the stigma that working women face in the tourism industry.
Ms. Almas Hassan, the administrative manager of Velaa Private Island; Ms. Aminath Shifana, the project manager and civil engineer; Ms. Fathimath Hafsa, the principal of Nooraanee School; and Ms. Noora Jaleel, the council executive and acting SG of Addu City Council, made up the all-female panel.
Chief Guest Dr. Aminath Adhala Rasheed, a councilor in the Addu City Council, honored the occasion. With Maldivian as the airline partner and associate sponsors Resort Life Travel and Gakaba, MIB was the conference’s primary sponsor for the second year.
“We hope today’s dialogue can be a stepping stone to pave the way for women in Addu to explore different avenues to contribute to the tourism industry, and start the much needed conversation on how to address the challenges of working women”, stated CEO of MATATO, who moderated the panel discussion.
MATATO’s Women’s Edition program, which was started in August 2024 with the goal of empowering women in tourism, is being carried forward with this Addu edition. As with the first conference, there will be a thorough post-conference report. Thoddoo is scheduled to host future editions in May 2025. Additionally, in collaboration with Hotel Jen Male’, in August 2025, in Male.
