The tourism sector, along with the services ecosystem, is the main driver of the Maldivian economy. Reliance on tourism earnings left the county especially vulnerable to the covid-19 pandemic. The government's efforts in 2022-23 will remain focused on bolstering activity in the sector. This will involve marketing the country as a safe holiday destination, owing to its "one island, one resort" set up and widespread vaccination. The government will continue to offer a 30-day visa on arrival, with no mandatory quarantine upon presentation of a negative covid-19 test, and rely on rapid booster dose programmes to maintain immunity levels of resort employees and the local population. These initiatives are likely to be welcomed by tourists, the majority of whom are from high-income groups.

Other matters will be put on the back burner, putting any further reform measures under the Strategic Action Plan 2019-23 on hold. These include tackling corruption and human rights abuse that spread under the previous administration. Reforms to the judiciary to reduce its tendency of intervening in the country's political struggles will also be slow to materialise.