TourismGossip

Sources within the tourism industry reports the Maldives Tourism Development Corporation has decided to compensate two of its partner tour operators, Thomas Cook and Hotelplan with a resort island to each. The tour operators seem to have demanded million dollar compensation for issues relating to Herathera Island not being completed on time.

Thomas Cook organized the first group of arrivals to the newly built resort island and had to rebook to other islands as it was not fully completed to serve the tourists. I was among those who welcomed the tourists after they rebooked to other islands. We gave extra attention and care to those guests as if it was our own mishandling. Believe it or not, they all had a wonderful stay and at some points they expressed that they were lucky to have it happened.

The tour operator obviously deserves a reasonable compensation due to the island not being available for service on time, causing them to seek last-minute deals which would have incurred more expense as they had to operate beyond their regular hotels. But, who would think they will be given a resort instead? Not me, but now it seems I have to.

Businesses come with risks. But when it comes to Thomas Cook and Hotelplan they seem to mean it as ‘luck’ while MTDC remains blind for their profitability and the commitment for their shareholders. We all know none of these tour operators are selling Maldives for the sake of doing a favour. If tourists demand for Maldives and if tour operators seek profit, business is where they meet. The entire industry should not rely on oligopolists.

An island in the Maldives to offer as compensation is too far from reality and it doesn’t fit into the picture. Most of all why can’t the tour operators estimate the financial value of loss and demand cash? And why do the chairman and his top cronies still prefer old barter system? Does this sense a real compensation or is something fishy?

Months back I heard the chairman announced that Herathera project was his biggest charity effort. Does his charity seem ending up into his own pocket? How muc would be the Return on Investment? Is this the ‘new model’ introduced by MTDC?