Tourism Minister Dr. Abdulla Maumoom has said the Maldives must work to cater to tourists with special needs. He made the statement while speaking on a show aired on local TV channel, Raajje TV.

Mausoom said the Maldives must be accessible to everyone, including those with visual and auditory challenges. While a large market exists within this group, the Maldives is not yet able to provide services to such a market, he said.

'We have to be prepared for this. We need to develop the infrastructure to cater to this market as soon as they disembark from the plane, make it wheelchair accessible when they board the speedboat, boarding the seaplane.. Even if they go to resort or even to an inhabited island, they are also an important part of the society,' the minister said.