The Maldives National University (MNU) marked World Tourism Day 2026 through a series of activities organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. The celebrations brought together MNU students, students studying tourism at the secondary school levels, government representatives, industry professionals, and academics to explore the future of tourism and the opportunities available to young Maldivians.

This year’s World Tourism Day theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” provided the foundation for activities that encouraged participants to think about how technology, creativity, and innovation are reshaping the tourism industry.

A key feature of the celebrations was the second edition of Fathuru Vaahaka, a talk series organised by the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies (FHTS) to provide students with opportunities to engage with professionals and gain insights beyond the classroom. This edition featured a panel discussion themed “Building Careers in a Changing Tourism Industry,” bringing together professionals from government, aviation, tourism, and the creative sector to share their experiences, perspectives, and insights with students.

The panel featured Dr. Abdulla Niyaz, State Minister at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, who shared perspectives on national tourism policy, the future direction of the industry, and opportunities for young Maldivians. Ms. Aishath Alaa Abdul Hannan, Deputy Manager, Corporate Strategy & Business Development at Trans Maldivian Airways Pvt. Ltd., shared insights from her career journey, leadership experiences, and work at the intersection of aviation, tourism, and business. Bringing a creative perspective was Mr. Hassan Ishan, Founder of See from The Sky, who discussed tourism branding, storytelling, social media, and digital content.

The discussion explored the growing influence of digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) and the skills students need to prepare for a changing tourism industry. Panelists also discussed how digitalization could create new opportunities for Maldivians and highlighted career pathways extending beyond traditional tourism roles, including aviation, corporate strategy, business development, creative industries, and digital storytelling. The discussion was moderated by Ali Naahid, a first-year student enrolled in the Bachelor of International Tourism Management programme, who connected the conversation to the concerns and aspirations of students entering the industry. The session was hosted by Mariyam Rifga, Lecturer in Tourism Management.

Another highlight of the celebrations was the World Tourism Day 2026 Poster Competition, which was open to all MNU students, providing them with a platform to showcase their creativity while engaging with the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.” Through visual storytelling, students explored how digitalisation and AI are transforming tourism while demonstrating how creativity and innovative communication can be used to engage audiences and tell the story of the Maldives. The competition reflected the changing nature of tourism communication, where social media, digital platforms, and visual content have become increasingly important in destination marketing and storytelling. It encouraged students to move beyond traditional approaches and consider how emerging technologies and creative communication can shape the future of tourism. To recognise outstanding entries, the first, second, and third place winners will each receive resort stay prizes, generously sponsored by industry partners and arranged by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.

Together, the Fathuru Vaahaka panel discussion and poster making competition created opportunities for students to learn, create, question, and connect with the tourism industry. The activities highlighted the importance of bringing education, government, and industry together to prepare young Maldivians for an evolving tourism landscape. As technology and AI continue to influence the way tourism is experienced, marketed, and managed, the World Tourism Day 2026 celebrations reinforced the important role of young people as future professionals, innovators, leaders, and storytellers contributing to the continued development of Maldivian tourism.

The World Tourism Day 2026 celebrations also contributed to several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, through opportunities for students to gain industry knowledge, develop skills, and engage in meaningful learning beyond the classroom; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, by highlighting diverse career pathways and the role of young people in the future tourism workforce; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, through discussions on digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and innovation in tourism; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, by promoting inclusive opportunities for young Maldivians to participate in and contribute to the tourism sector; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through collaboration between The Maldives National University, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, government representatives, industry professionals, and the wider tourism community.