Tourism and Development Influencing Traditional Arts in the Maldives
In the heart of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is renowned for its pristine beaches and vibrant marine life. However, a new approach is being considered to further boost the nation's economy, focusing on the strategic integration of its rich cultural identity with the vital tourism sector.
In 2023, the Maldives directly supported 30.9% of total employment in the tourism sector, representing approximately 80,930 jobs. Yet, the absence of systematic data on the cultural and creative sectors presents a critical gap that needs addressing.
Colombia, a South American country, offers an inspiring example. In 2023, Colombia premiered 71 national films in theatres, the highest number on record. This achievement was made possible by Law 814, enacted in 2003, which created the Cinematographic Development Fund (FDC), a parafiscal levy on ticket sales in the film industry. Similarly, Colombia's Public Shows Law (Law 1493 of 2011) introduced a 10% parafiscal levy on ticket sales for large live performance events.
For the Maldives, the path forward involves translating cultural assets and existing tourism demand into sustainable economic opportunities. This can be achieved through strategic investment, inter-ministerial coordination, and stakeholder engagement. The Maldives needs to promote shared agendas across different ministries, particularly between the Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Tourism, and Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Key strategies include developing a National Creative Economy Strategy, establishing dedicated funding mechanisms, capacity building and knowledge exchange, promoting creative content production, leveraging cultural and community-based tourism, and encouraging digital innovation and storytelling.
Eduardo Saravia, Chief Economist at Sound Diplomacy and UNESCO Expert, emphasises the importance of these strategies. He believes that targeted policies should prioritise strategic investments, institutional coordination, stakeholder participation, and dedicated funding to unlock the multiplier effect of the creative economy on tourism growth and cultural identity building in the Maldives.
The discussions held during the Policy Roundtable reaffirmed that cultural and creative industries are integral to building diversified, resilient, and inclusive economies. The Maldives is moving toward articulating a national strategy for the cultural and creative sectors, guided by principles from international experiences.
Establishing a statistical foundation through cultural mapping, satellite accounts, or targeted sectoral surveys would allow the government to define reliable KPIs and realistic policy targets. International experiences show that long-term vision, dedicated funding mechanisms, and robust data systems are foundational pillars of creative economy development.
In the Maldives, tourism contributed MVR 26.66 billion to GDP in 2023, equivalent to 24.2% of national GDP. Tourism contributes around 10% of global GDP and supports one in every ten jobs worldwide. By strategically integrating its cultural identity with tourism, the Maldives aims to increase the creative sector's GDP contribution to 15% by 2030 through sustainable development of creative and tourism industries.
One example of this integration can be seen at the Oaga Art Resort, where Maldivian artists and craftsmen collaborate to create the largest art collection in the Maldives, inspired by Maldivian folklore, mythology, and daily life.
Eduardo Saravia is part of the Global Creative Economy Council, demonstrating his commitment to fostering creative entrepreneurship and promoting sustainable economic diversification worldwide. His article, published recently, provides valuable insights into the potential of the creative economy in the Maldives and beyond.
