OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF "VISIT KANDITHEEMU": A PIONEERING COMMUNITY-LED TOURISM INITIATIVE UNVEILED IN THE MALDIVES

KANDITHEEMU, MALDIVES — Wednesday, 30 September 2026 — In a landmark milestone for local tourism and sustainable community development, the official launch of Visit Kanditheemu took place in a hybrid format at the Kanditheemu Council Hall and online.

The initiative establishes a new benchmark for community-driven tourism development in the Maldives, combining digital modernisation, local enterprise development, capacity building, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

The official platform, https://www.visitkanditheemu.com, was unveiled to the public during the ceremony. The website serves as a modern gateway for travellers exploring Kanditheemu, showcasing the island’s attractions, cultural heritage, community, and authentic local experiences.

Project Overview & Phase 1 Impact

The event highlighted the achievements of Phase 1 of the project and demonstrated how local collaboration can generate meaningful economic and social impact.

Key milestones include:

• Digital & Analytics Modernisation: The official Visit Kanditheemu web platform has been fully updated and launched, supported by documented tourist arrival data and economic impact assessments.

• Mass Reach: More than 1 million accounts reached across over 40 digital content assets.

• Capacity & Enterprise Development: Establishment of an operational local vendor registry, targeted training programmes that upskilled more than 30 participants, and inclusive stakeholder forums involving women, youth, and local vendors.

• Strategic Partnerships: Execution of binding Memorandums of Understanding with more than five key institutional partners, strengthening the long-term partnership ecosystem and shared community governance involving the Island Council and Women’s Development Committee.

Looking Ahead: Phase 2 Priorities

Building on the strong foundation established during Phase 1, the project will now transition into its next phase with a continued focus on long-term sustainability, policy development, local enterprise growth, and inclusive tourism development.

Phase 2 will include the continuation and expansion of core partnership-building efforts, advanced capacity-building workshops for local businesses, validation and implementation of comprehensive marketing and promotion strategies, and sustained multi-stakeholder dialogue to ensure that the community remains at the heart of Kanditheemu’s tourism development.

The project also plans to develop a policy paper for local tourism development, with the objective of supporting more consistent and structured approaches to community-led tourism in collaboration with relevant local authorities.

Stakeholder Reflections & Remarks

The collaborative spirit of the initiative was reflected in remarks delivered by key stakeholders during the launch ceremony.

Opening the remarks, Mr. Mohamed Areesh, Chairperson of Blue Guild Foundation, highlighted the long-term journey behind the initiative:

“This is a long-term effort and this has been in the making for many years.”

Mr. Ibrahim Nazmee, President of Kanditheemu Island Council, expressed his gratitude to all project partners for their invaluable contribution towards the island’s future development.

Highlighting the gender-inclusive dimensions of the initiative, Ms. Fathimath Firasha, President of the Kanditheemu Women’s Development Committee, emphasised the importance of the partnership in creating greater opportunities for women and girls within the community.

Donor and partner representatives also underscored the wider national and regional relevance of the project.

Mr. Roshan Shajehan, Senior Program Manager at The Asia Foundation, stated:

“This is a partnership model that is beneficial for other island communities which can be replicated.”

Reinforcing the commitment of international partners, His Excellency Mr. David Jessup, Australian High Commissioner to the Republic of Maldives, remarked:

“Empowering local communities to seek local solutions through collaboration between a diverse group of entities is a meaningful and sustainable solution and AHC is happy to support such initiatives. I had the privilege of visiting the beautiful island of Kanditheemu and truly enjoyed the warm hospitality and natural beauty of the island.”

About the Initiative

The official launch of Visit Kanditheemu marks the formalisation of key stakeholder partnerships involving Kanditheemu Island Council, Kanditheemu Women’s Development Committee, Blue Guild Foundation, Secret Paradise Maldives, and The Eco Organization.

The initiative forms part of the Visit Kanditheemu – A Community Driven Future Project, implemented by Blue Guild Foundation with support from the Australian Government’s Direct Aid Program (DAP) alongside The Asia Foundation, with funding support from the European Union.

Through collaboration between community institutions, development partners, tourism stakeholders, and local enterprises, the initiative aims to strengthen sustainable tourism, expand economic opportunities for local businesses, promote Kanditheemu as an authentic island destination, and ensure that tourism development delivers long-term benefits for the wider community.

For more information, visit:

https://www.visitkanditheemu.com

End of Press Release