Maldives Tourism Minister Abdullah Mausoom has been elected to the Executive Committee of the Asia Pacific Travel Association, an influential body to promote responsible travel and tourism in the region, reported Raajje TV. 

Mausoom, known for the revival of the tourism industry in the Maldives last year,  was elected to PATA's Executive Committee in an online vote. 

His two-year term has begun on 29 April 2021. The Maldivian government and private parties working in the tourism industry are in active collaboration with PATA to mitigate the economic impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

There are 32 Chapters in the Asia Pacific Region created in support of PATA, with top industry-leader H. Ladybirdge, Abdulla Giyas acting as the Chair of the PATA Maldives Chapter.

Countries dependent on tourism have had a very tough time last year due to disruption caused by the COVID-19 crisis. The Maldives economy shrank by 30 percent last year. However, the archipelago was one of the first countries to restart tourism in July last year. 

Mausoom, a veteran of the industry, took charge of the tourism ministry in August last year and steered the revival of the industry, a sector that contributes 70 percent of the total state revenue.