Yoosuf Riffath is a dynamic entrepreneur who has successfully launched and managed new business concepts in the Maldives. He is a leading figure and a pioneer in the tourism industry. His strength lies in his pioneering spirit coupled with his organizational capacity, his capacity to network and engage with others, to bring in their participation, for the development of the industry.

 In 1981 Mr. Riffath was a young aspiring youth, working in the civil service, on the look out for opportunities, the most appealing of which at the time was the budding tourism industry. His opportunity came when he saw a vacancy ad in the papers for a post in one of the largest resort operators in the country, Universal Enterprises. It was here he learnt the ropes of the industry working in various departments of the Company. After nine years in Universal and equipped with the experience gained, Riffath started his own company, Capital Travel & Tours.

From its humble beginnings, the Company has become one of the most prominent travel agents and tour operators in the country. At a time when resorts were heavily leaning on the business of foreign tour operators, it was an uphill battle for small local firms. A number of travel agents were formed during that time, but it was only a few that succeeded. It was Riffaths determination and his vision to succeed that enabled him to rise above the rest and gain the confidence of the resort operators in order to create one of the most successful local travel agencies during this period.

During his long career in the tourism industry Riffath has helped develop the industry especially the tour operators segment, making it a significant player that the industry has to engage with. In 2006 Riffath together with others founded MATATO, the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators, a platform for local travel agents and tour operators to work together with the resort operators to gain their confidence and help build the sector by offering a unified front. MATATO currently has more than 50 members and is one of the most active organizations in the tourism industry.

Riffath is always in the forefront in his untiring efforts to develop and promote the industry. He is also a founding member of the Liveaboard Association of Maldives, established to promote the liveaboard sector of the tourism industry. Furthermore, Riffath is also the founder and President of Association of Travel Agents founded in 2014.

While Capital Travel & Tours has membership of the most prominent international industry associations such as the International Coalition of Travel Partners, ICTP, Pacific Asia Travel Association, PATA American Society of Travel Agents, ASTA, Riffath has worked to develop greater engagement of the local industry with such international associations. Riffath has been serving as the Chapter President of ASTA since 1995. He has also served as a Director of the Board at the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), the state organization responsible for the promotion of tourism.  

 Riffaths vision is on the tourism industry, be it matters related to its operation or youth participation and employment in the industry. In 2002 he formed Astrabon Pvt. Ltd., yet another pioneering venture, dedicated to providing resorts with operational supplies of a quality befitting the upmarket tourism industry of the country. The Company is a tremendous success with a portfolio that includes the most respective brands of kitchenware and related products from around the world.

Getting people to take part in the tourism industry, connecting them with business partners, providing those with opportunities on which they can stand on, these are things that Riffath is passionate about. In his quest to get youth participation in the economy and to create a platform for young people to prepare for employment, in 2006, he formed the Employment bureau (Maldives) Pvt. Ltd. The broad objective was to complement the national effort to strengthen the human resource base of the country, offering a variety of training opportunities. Riffath serves as the president of Employment Bureau Pvt. Ltd.

Riffath sees the development of small-scale local tourism as the next big frontier. He is already planning and implementing ways and means to provide a platform that can be used by local tourism agencies and guesthouses in the operation and marketing of their businesses. His vision is to implement ways to support the segment by offering comprehensive solutions that will assist in the development of the sector.