Maldives Islands
Introduction
It's
also a major destination for scuba divers, who come for the fabulous coral reefs
and the wealth of marine life. But it's not a place for low budget backpackers
or amateur anthropologists who want to travel independently and live as the
locals do.
Resorts in the Maldives woo tourists with promises of 'the last paradise on
earth', and if your idea of paradise is a pristine tropical island with swaying
palm trees, pure white beaches and brilliant turquoise lagoons, then the Maldives
will not disappoint.
The tourism strategy also aims to minimise the adverse effects of tourism on
traditional Muslim communities. Tourists can make short guided visits to local
fishing villages, but must then return to their resort. To stay longer or to
travel to atolls outside the tourist zone requires a good reason, a special
permit, and a local person to sponsor the visitor.
Tourism in the Maldives is carefully managed. The lack of local resources makes
it necessary to import virtually everything a visitor needs, so it can't really
compete on price. The strategy has been to develop a limited number of quality
resorts, each on its own uninhabited island, free from traffic, crime and crass
commercialism.
Places of Interest
Malé
About 2km (1.2mi) long and 1km (0.62mi) wide, Malé is small, quaint,
and densely settled. Though not spectacular, it is quite unique as a capital
city. It's clean and tidy, with mosques, markets, a maze of small streets and
a certain, sometimes sleepy, charm all its own.
Malé is packed to the edges with buildings, roads and a few well-used
open spaces. Officially, the population is around 65,000, but with foreign workers
and short-term visitors from other islands, there may be as many as 100,000
people in town - it certainly feels like it.
Seenu (Addu Atoll)
This is the 'second city' of the Maldives, and the resort here is the best base
from which to visit traditional Maldivian island communities. The Addu people
are fiercely independent, speak differently from folk in the capital and at
one time even tried to secede from the republic.
Tourist development in Addu has been slow to start, but a resort has been established
in the old RAF buildings on Gan. Gan is linked by causeways to the adjacent
islands, and it's easy to get around them by bicycle, giving unmatched opportunities
to visit the local villages and see village life.
Resorts
The vast majority of visitors come to the Maldives on package tours, staying
at one of the 70-plus resort islands. Most resorts are in the three atolls closest
to the capital - North Malé Atoll, South Malé Atoll and Ari Atoll.
Despite their apparent similarity, however, they differ considerably.
Judging by the brochures, all the resorts are beautiful and are blessed with
white sand, blue sea and swaying palm trees, and they all promise great diving.
But they can vary distinctly in their comfort, cuisine, clientele, character
and their suitability for various excursions and activities.
Maldives Islands, Introduction Reservation
Form
Tiger Safari
