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RIYADH: The Maldives’ tourism model is built on a delicate balance between economic growth and environmental preservation, Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim said in an interview ahead of the UN’s Tourism 2025 event.

“In the Maldives, we have luxury resorts — one resort, one island — which means that tourists live on a separate island,” Ibrahim said. “Most of the tourism resorts are like deserted islands, so that’s where we stand out from other countries.”

Ibrahim explained that sustainability is a legal requirement at every stage of development. Before any resort construction begins, developers must carry out a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment to identify and mitigate potential damage to surrounding ecosystems.

“When one builds a resort, they first have to do an Environmental Impact Assessment to make sure that when they build the resort, there is minimal environmental impact,” he said.

Each resort, the minister noted, is designed to operate independently, with its own waste management, water production, and energy systems — an approach that promotes environmental self-sufficiency.

“They have to have their own solid waste management system, their own water production system, and they produce their own power,” he said.

This decentralized model also supports the government’s wider clean energy agenda. Under the current administration, the Maldives aims to generate 33 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2028, with solar energy leading the transition.

“Resorts are required to generate their own power. Under the current administration, one of the key pledges is that by 2028 the nation will produce 33 percent of its electricity from renewable energy,” Ibrahim said.

He added that many resorts are already moving in this direction, adopting large-scale solar installations and energy storage technologies. “Some resorts now have more than 50 or 60 percent renewable energy,” he said. “We are trying to have more and greener resorts that can have a lesser footprint.”

Beyond infrastructure, Ibrahim stressed the importance of educating visitors about environmental responsibility to preserve the islands’ fragile ecosystem.

“When tourists arrive at the resorts, we try to educate them and tell them what things they should not do that harm the environment, but at the same time, they should enjoy it and make sure they live within it,” he said.

He concluded that the Maldives’ success story hinges on maintaining this equilibrium — expanding tourism opportunities while safeguarding the pristine natural environment that defines the country’s global identity.