Maafushi council holds language courses to facilitate better communication with Chinese tourists

To facilitate the growing number of Chinese tourists visiting Maafushi, the island council began collaboration with Villa’s Chinese Language Center in order to launch courses to teach Chinese to local institutions.

The first course began on 23 July, and a new course will be underway soon.

Staff members from the Maafushi Council, Maafushi Hospital, Maafushi Police, Maafushi School, and Maafushi Local Authority Company Limited attended the first training.

Ten participants—two from each institution—learned Chinese during the course of the two-month program.

Participants were given diplomas by Dr. Ali Najeeb, the vice rector of Villa College, upon finishing the foundational Chinese course.

According to Villa College, the council started these courses to facilitate interactions related to tourism and offer Chinese tourists all-inclusive services. This ensures improved communication and support by addressing issues that tourists face, like minor incidents or health services.

Villa College stated that these initiatives are intended to train guesthouse employees to assist Chinese guests, and that registration for the second session will shortly open for those who are interested.

With 174,658 Chinese visitors so far this year, China is the Maldives' largest supplier of tourism.