Ministry of Tourism has established a hotline to report illegal activities related to the hospitality industry.

Speaking during a press meet today, Tourism Minister Ali Waheed said that the Ministry does not wish to see another incident like that of ADh. Fushidhiggaa. The Ministry also noted that any illegal activities related to the industry can be reported to either 7223131 or 9423131.

Fushidhiggaa is currently under police authority after it was found that the island was hosting tourists as a picnic island illegally. A team of the Tourism Ministry and Police had visited the island yesterday, following which the island was taken under their authority.

Upon their visit, Police found two foreign workers without a valid work permit in the island. No tourists were present during the time of the visit, according to the Tourism Ministry.

The Minster further revealed that the two workers were kept under inhumane conditions. As such he noted the presence of a generator, which was only used for the needs of guests and that the two lived in complete darkness after sunset.

Three parties are involved in the ownership dispute of Fushidhiggaa. These include Ahmed Khaleel, Maldiviana and Hospitality Management Holding (HMH), the latter two who had paid the state previously to develop the island as a resort destination.

The issue had come to the Ministry's attention after several media reports claimed that Khaleel was illegally running tourist services in the island.