At an operational level, the appropriate mix of government policies, laws and regulations can contribute to the long term sustainability of tourism destinations. While human resource development (HRD) has been recognized as a critical component for sustainable development of tourism destinations, in the context of Small Island Developing States few studies analyse whether appropriate policies are in place to address HRD needs and opportunities for the tourism sector. Drawing on research undertaken in the Maldives, this paper explores the role of government policies in HRD as a contributor to sustainable tourism development. Using mixed methodology, data were gathered from tourism educators, local community representatives, and a survey questionnaire mail-out for tourism industry managers. The findings indicate that the government has neglected HRD policies in their overall tourism development plans. Further, this research suggests that the ad hoc government policies in HRD related to tourism have had a detrimental effect on the long-term sustainability of the destination and viability of the Maldivian tourism sector.