MALE, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives government on Thursday said the Maldives had imported souvenirs worth over 6.5 million U.S. dollars within the past three years.
Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail, speaking at the "Fannu Expo", a Maldivian national level craftsmanship exhibition, said the government aimed to increase the production of local souvenirs and he expected to see more local souvenirs in the market in the coming years.
The minister explained that plans include establishing local souvenir shops in resorts via business centre corporations and developing a logo to use on local products, in addition to opening a souvenir shop at Velana International Airport (VIA) Duty Free to showcase local products.
The Maldives is a hot spot for tourism and its local tourism sector has become the country's leading foreign exchange earner.
So far this year over one million tourists have visited the Maldives.
