The experienced and educated professionals of the Maldives can play a key role in promoting the Maldives at the global level. With years of experience, they can bring in-depth knowledge and good rapport with various stakeholders domestically and internationally. Moreover, educated professionals are creative and innovative in strategy creation. To retain and attract such great talents in the industry, we should adopt impressive motivational programs in our management system. Such programs should include opportunities to enhance their knowledge and education, adequate financial benefits, incentives, and flexible working conditions and hours.

Pilgrimage was the start of organized tours hence tourism has been something global, interdependent on the world's economies. Populations change based on how leaders manage the systems and cultural diversity. Teamwork is based on trust and mutual respect. Experience comes with time, exposure and practice. While knowledge is upon the accumulation of information either through experience or education, it can be taught unlike experiences. To retain such talent, we must keep aside politics, maintain policies that don’t change with political changes.

Educated industry experts promote properties and brands globally through targeted marketing and PR initiatives, leveraging brand strength to benefit destinations. These efforts, which are measurable and tangible, are crucial today. To retain this momentum, we need improved marketing outreach, workshops and seminars with key marketers to formulate strategic roadmaps, and active participation from various stakeholders. I suggest forming a tourism technical council and an advisory board to guide decision-makers, and organizing a tourism industry marketers conference with international brands. Enhanced involvement from destination promoters and allocating budgets for Maldivian content creators for global social media campaigns will strengthen destination plans.

Having studied, worked with Product Development, Product Management and Marketing for 12 years in a professional organization with merit-based recruiting, I would say professionals need to be recruited and should be retained on performance basis to be competitive.