Unlike previous years, IMTM is now not only aimed towards creating dialogue but is also aimed towards creating a standard for conducting sustainable tourism in the Maldives.
Imtm Online
Sustainability appears to finally have picked up its much-needed popularity as countries from around the globe appear to have started to adapt to more sustainable and eco-friendly methods in their day-to-day lives and when conducting business.
When it comes to the Maldives, sustainability has been a topic that needed to be discussed years ago as the low-lying country has always been in danger of the negative effects of climate change. After decades of neglect, however, the Maldives is also trying to embrace sustainable practices along the way.
And just like anything else, even adapting to more eco-friendly techniques in our life is something that comes from trial and error. In such a manner, sustainability in the tourism industry of the Maldives also appears to be trying to adapt to the much-needed changes with the available resources.
While some resorts have already started taking major steps towards reducing, reusing and recycling, others have started growing their own farms to try and incorporate more home-grown fresh vegetables into the food to try and minimise the waste produced with large imports while serving the freshest of food to the guests.
In order to help people within the industry gain knowledge as well as try to find sustainable manners to conduct tourism, International Maldives Travel Market (IMTM) was introduced in 2019. One of the biggest reasons behind IMTM being created was to connect various industry professionals from different sectors with the policymakers and academic bodies in order to create the much-necessary dialogue regarding sustainable practices in the tourism industry.
And with that in mind, the first-ever IMTM session was conducted with the theme of ‘Sustainable tourism as a tool for local development’.
Unlike previous years, now IMTM is not only aimed towards creating dialogue but is also aimed towards creating a standard for conducting sustainable tourism in the Maldives. With the sessions spread over two days, this year’s forum which is to be held from 3rd to 4th December at Manhattan Business Hotel aims to explore the topic ‘what is sustainable tourism? Interpretations and discourses of sustainable tourism in the Maldives’.
