Multi-year Expert Meeting
on Transport, Trade Logistics and Trade
Facilitation
Third Session:
Small Island Developing States:
Transport and Trade Logistics
Challenges
24 – 26 November 2014
Small Island Developing States:
Transport and Trade Logistics
Challenges
Presentation by
Ms. Rishfa Rasheed
Chargé d’affaires ad interim and Counselor
Permanent Mission, Maldives
This expert paper is reproduced by the UNCTAD secretariat in the form and language in which it
has been received. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the
view of the United Nations.
26/11/2014
Small Island Developing States:
Transport and Trade Logistics Challenges
UNCTAD Multi-year Expert Meeting
24 - 26 November 2014, Geneva
Presentat ion b y:
Rish fa Rash eed
Cou n sellor, Perman en t Mission of Mald ive s
The Maldives
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Key Characteristics of SIDS
Insularity, geographic remoteness, smallness of economies, population and area
Highly dependent on key industries such as tourism, fisheries
Extensive territorial waters and exclusive economic zones, high export concentration, deep
openness to trade, are heavily reliant on imports
 Significantly exposed to environment related shocks, and climate change and associated
threats, compared to other states
Due to dispersion of population as well as the needs of tourism, transportation links need to be
well established
Food security is dependent on transport links
High cost of internal and international transportation
National Context
Transport Resources:
Traditional mode of transport within the islands has been by foot.
By 1992, a total of 45,236 vehicles were registered in the Maldives (85% bicycles).
By 2010, one in six residents in the capital Malé owned a motorbike.
Registered cars increased from 623 to 3,488.
 Walking is NOT popular.
Bus services are operated city wide within Malé City and HulhuMalé.
The only roads of significant expanse in the Maldives are located in Addu City and in Laamu
Atoll, interconnected via causeways. Both have approximately 14 kilometres of roads
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National Context
 Transport between the islands is by sea – traditional dhoni
 All inhabited islands and tourist resorts have infrastructure developed in the form of harbours
or jetties
 An integrated ferry network covering all the islands and atolls of the Maldives was initiated in
2008
 Actual implementation, efficiency of the system in many regions remains an issue
Interconnection of the islands is expected to bring economic benefits and development of
other sectors
Health
education
utilities
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Sea transport
Dhonis (local boats) and speed boats are the most popular forms of inter-island transport
 Three international ports have been established,
One in the capital Malé
Two regional ports Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi in the north, and Addu City in the south
Figure 1: Number of vessels by type - 1990 and 2011
Source: transport.gov.mv
10000
9,597
9000
8000
7000
6,293
6000
1990
5000
2011
4000
3000
2,083
2000
649
1000
61
129
297
521
198
155
0
Yatch dhoni
Speed launch
Boats
Dhoni
Bahtheli
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Air travel - Domestic
Domestic airport facilities exist in nine regions
Home to the largest sea plane operations in the world
In 2011, a total of 112,847 domestic flights were operated for 737,840 arrivals and 747,424
departures
 44 planes operating more than 100,000 flights each year in the country
Access facilities for sea planes have been established in 66 locations
First International Airport opened in 1966
International flights increased from 1,650 in 1990 to 19,435 in 2011
Three additional international airports were opened recently
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Air transportation – International
 Major gateways – Colombo, Doha, Dubai, Singapore
International carriers Singapore Airlines, Qatar, Emirates, Sri Lankan, Turkish Airlines
Main source markets – Far East (China, Japan etc.), Europe (German and Italian markets are of
particular importance)
The Far East has displaced Europe and a primary source market for the Maldives
Premium airlift have also driven demand for premium hotel brand
Figure 2: Passenger movements at international airports
(Source DNP, 2012)
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
1990
600,000
2011
400,000
200,000
0
International arrivals
Transit passengers
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Tourism resources:
 Started in 1972 with two resorts having a bed capacity of 280
 Now, one third of GDP and public revenue
 Among the biggest employment sources
 Major source of foreign exchange
 In 2012, 958,027 tourists arrived
 343 registered tourist establishments
105 resorts
20 hotels
60 guest houses
158 safari vessels
Figure 3: Bed occupancy of resorts
25000
15000
10000
5000
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
1979
1978
1977
1976
1975
1974
1973
0
1972
Resort bed Capacity
20000
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Key Challenges and Way forward
1.
Demand for better transportation services to cater to tourism
2.
High Energy intensive Tourism Sector due to transportation costs
3.
Transport and Tourism inexplicably linked
4.
All activities related to tourism are linked to transport linkages
5.
Difficulty in maintaining infrastructure across archipelago
6.
Environmental impacts on all transportation modes
7.
Regulatory framework and institutional reform
8.
Remoteness from major markets
Overcoming challenges
 Tourism has been only high-end and luxury
 Recently started allowing “budget” airlines and “guest-house” tourism
Improving the quality and affordability of transport facilities
Access to major source markets for tourism
Catering to local produce to reduce costs
Regional transport facilities
Assessing the environmental impact and challenges – sustainable measures
Maldives seeks to become a “Carbon neutral country” by 2020
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Thank You
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