Front row from left to right: Ms. Ikleela Ismail (Senior Research Officer), Mr. Ali Niyaz (Senior Legal Officer), Mr. Mohamed Saeed (Deputy Minister of Tourism), Hon. Dr. Mustafa Lutfi (Minister of Tourism), Mr. Ahmed Solih (Deputy Director, Trade Standards), Mr. Yazeed Mohamed (Assistant Director, Finance), Mr. Moosa Zameer Hassan (Assistant Director)

Purpose
To develop tourism at a national level, and carry out long-term planning, development, monitoring, and regulatory functions to ensure a sustainable tourism industry for the benefit of the people of the Maldives .

Vision
The Vision of the Ministry of Tourism is for the Maldives to be the best example of sustainable tourism development - a nation with an economically profitable tourism industry in harmony with its natural environment, cultural resources, and the values of its people.

Mission
Improve the quality of life of the Maldivian people by optimizing and balancing the economic, environmental, and socio-cultural benefits of tourism, with equitable distribution of these benefits to the society, while minimising the possible negative impacts of tourism.

Goals and Objectives
• Increase economic benefits of tourism including growth of national income, more and better employment opportunities, increased net foreign exchange earnings, regional development, and increased revenues to the government.
• Ensure equitable distribution of the economic benefits of tourism to the society.
• Make tourism a vehicle for the protection and conservation of nature and natural resources, and the revitalization and preservation of the nation's cultural assets.
• Maintain the strong private sector role in the industry while enhancing the operating environment and facilitating the private sector to achieve the desired benefits of tourism.
• Increase Maldivian participation at all levels of the industry and especially increase the participation of women in this industry.
• Nurture a society that understands the value of tourism to the nation, and its critical role in the future prosperity of the country and its people.
• Remain competitive in the global market by continuously expanding and diversifying the product, enhancing the quality of services, and become established as a quality tourism destination delivering good value-for-money.
• Develop support infrastructure and activities, to ensure hassle-free travel and the safety and security of tourists during their holiday.

Main Functions
• Formulation and implementation of development policy.
• Long-term planning of tourism development at national level.
• Coordination of development implementation.
• Formulation and implementation of laws and regulations for tourism.
• Establishment and administration of facility and service standards.
• Adoption of sound environmental principles in tourism development and operation.
• Statistical collection, compilation and reporting.
• Conducting of research studies.
• Planning and implementation of human resource development for tourism.
• Establishment and administration of training standards, in coordination with the concerned authorities.
• Leasing of land for tourism and registration of all tourism operators and facilities.