The Parliament has passed an amendment to the Tourism Act allowing islands, land, and lagoons to be leased for the development of tourism training resorts. The bill was approved on Wednesday.

Under the amendment, the size and scope of each training resort will be determined according to regulations aligned with the services offered by the tourism industry and national targets for workforce development. The legislation also requires clear guidelines on the conditions and programmes to be implemented at these resorts.

The training resorts must include centres for tourism staff, enabling them to gain practical experience while serving guests. In addition, the bill sets out the fundamental rules for issuing licences for travel planning and tourism operations, further supporting the development of a skilled workforce in the sector.