Minister of Finance and Planning, Moosa Zameer, has underscored the importance of partnerships in sustaining and strengthening the Maldives’ position as a leading luxury travel destination. He was speaking as Chief Guest at the relaunch of the Experience Maldives campaign, held in collaboration with Bank of Maldives (BML) and American Express, on September 27, 2025.

In his address, Minister Zameer said tourism continues to play a central role in the Maldivian economy by sustaining livelihoods, driving private investment, and supporting public services. He noted that while the Maldives is recognised globally for its natural beauty and hospitality, maintaining this success requires quality, consistency, and effective collaboration.

“Experience Maldives helps us achieve this by targeting premium travellers with compelling offers, while supporting operators across resorts, guesthouses, liveaboards, and local merchants,” the Minister said. He added that the new two-year programme would generate demand during shoulder periods, encourage longer stays, and boost ancillary spending in areas such as wellness, dining, excursions, and retail.

Highlighting BML’s long-standing partnership with American Express, Minister Zameer noted that for over two decades, the bank has been the exclusive issuer and acquirer for American Express in the Maldives. This, he said, is not only a commercial arrangement but also part of the country’s financial infrastructure, ensuring secure and reliable transactions that benefit guests, merchants, and the wider economy.

The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to working with Visit Maldives Corporation, MATI, associations, and the private sector to expand the benefits of tourism. He emphasised the need to maintain high service standards, smooth connectivity, and a strong environmental focus to retain the Maldives’ premium positioning.

“Partnerships are the engine of progress. The alignment we see tonight—between a national bank, a global payments leader, government agencies, industry associations, and businesses—is how we deliver sustainable growth,” he said.

Minister Zameer also encouraged more partners to join the Experience Maldives campaign, noting that broader participation would strengthen the Maldives’ appeal in international markets. He thanked BML and American Express for their continued commitment to supporting the tourism sector, and invited merchants across the country to take part in the opportunities the campaign presents.

The Experience Maldives campaign, first launched in 2017, is now in its fourth edition. The refreshed programme will run for two years, offering American Express Card Members exclusive privileges across a wide range of tourism and lifestyle businesses in the Maldives.