Tourism Development

Tourism in the Maldives has started in 1972 with only three hotels, now – there are more than 100 operational resorts. The unique condition of Maldives is that one island is one resort, meaning that one hotel occupies the whole island. By doing so, resorts provide more privacy and more luxury for their visitors. The Maldives are also trying to stay eco-friendly and use more of solar energy rather than diesel. The Maldives provide facilities and services, entertainment and telecommunication services, they also provide numerous resorts, hotels, guest houses, and liveaboards.

Overview of a typical Tropical Resort

A Maldivian tourist resort A tourist resort in the Maldives typically consists of a hotel on its own island, with its population entirely made up of tourists and work force, with no local people or houses. Tourism workers and employers Workers of the tourism industry are represented by the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM). TEAM argues the 25,000 workers employed in the industry face poor conditions and have very low wages (between US$80 to US$235 monthly) given the cost of living.

Arrivals by Country

Most visitors arriving to the Maldives on short term basis, were from the following countries of nationality:
Foreign tourist arrivals

Rank      Country                2018        2017       2016        2015        2014        2013         2012         2011
1             China     283,116 306,530 324,326 359,514 363,626 331,719 229,550 198,655
2             Germany             117,532 112,109 106,381 105,132 98,328   93,598   98,351   90,517
3             United Kingdom               114,602 103,977 101,843 92,775   88,704   85,869   91,776   104,508
4             Italy       105,297 88,848   71,202   65,616   57,862   57,854   62,782   83,328
5             India      90,474   83,019   66,955   52,368   45,587   38,014   31,721   30,978
6             Russia   70,935   61,931   46,522   44,323   66,308   76,479   66,378   63,936
7             France  50,476   42,365   40,487   42,024   50,656   54,328   56,775   59,694
8             United States    42,901   39,180   32,589   29,308   25,641   20,034   16,049   14,490
9             Japan    42,304   41,133   39,894   39,244   38,817   39,463   36,438   35,782
10           Australia              37,254   27,360   N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A
Total      1,484,274             1,389,542             1,286,135             1,234,248             1,204,857             1,125,202             958,027                931,333

Climate Change

Climate change in the Maldives

The Maldives’ economy is greatly influenced by any climate changes. Tourism sector can be damaged by the increased likelihood of violent storms, damage to coral reefs, and beach erosion, which are now more likely to happen because of the rising seas.

As a consequence of climate change, Maldives is now facing the problem of rising seas and coral reefs bleaching. According to the World Bank, with “future sea levels projected to increase in the range of 10 to 100 centimeters by the year 2100, the entire country could be submerged.” New government has made a decision to fight the rising seas problem with geoengineering projects instead of trying to move the population. The idea is to rent out other islands and even build new islands, so the population of those islands who are more in trouble could be relocated. One of those built islands is Hulhumale’.

It has been also pointed out that some islands can grow naturally.