Why the Maldives got on everyone's bucket list in the last 50 years

When you imagine paradise, the pristine beauty of the Maldives often comes to mind.

The powdery white sand reflects the sunlight so brilliantly that it feels like it’s burning your babies. The inviting turquoise water is crystal clear, showing the carcass fish swimming beneath the surface like a glass aquarium. You might even see a baby blacktip shark hugging the shore if you’re lucky.

Spend some time on #TravelTikTok or Instagram, and you’ll see endless videos and images of the Maldives and its iconic overwater villas, which put guests literally inches from the ocean. The resorts occupy entire islands, giving a sense of privacy and luxury desired by travelers.

The Maldives’ rapid rise to becoming a top travel bucket list destination has only developed over the past 50 years – with no signs of slowing down. International tourism accounts for 58.3% of the economy, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. (The next closest is fishing.) In 2033, it is expected to make up almost 60.7%.

The number of tourists visiting still surpasses previous records. In 2022, there were 1.68 million tourists, and in 2023, more than 1.8 million tourists visited the country with just over half a million residents.

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“The outlook for the Maldives tourism industry has never been better, and we are confident that we can reach the target of 2 million tourists set for this year,” said Fathmath Thaufeeq, CEO and managing director of Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corp., to the United States. TODAY.

Now recognized as a sought-after vacation spot, the country is focusing on preserving its beaches and coral reefs – primary factors that attract visitors – in the face of climate change and increased human activity.

“As the lowest-income country in the world, we are very aware of the crisis and its daily impacts,” Thaufeeq said. “Our own livelihood, strongly linked to a thriving tourism industry, is inextricably linked to the safeguarding of our pristine environment.”

A “kept secret” for decades

Before the 1970s, the Maldives — a remote archipelago comprising 1,192 islands in the Indian Ocean — was a “kept secret among the most adventurous travelers,” Thaufeeq said. There was essentially no tourist infrastructure. Many islands were uninhabited – to this day, more than 1,000 remain so, visited only by locals for beach days and picnics. The local villages supported themselves with coconuts and fishing.

tea the country’s first official resort opened in 1972 by a Maldivian in a former coconut farm. Comprising 30 rooms built of coral and limestone with palm thatched roofs. The resort was named Kurumba, which means “coconut” in the local Dhivehi language. It was a rough experience, with the guests going through the water from the boat to the shore and not much to do besides fishing and enjoying the beach. Meals are served in canteens or at a barbecue on the beach.

Despite this, the natural beauty of the Maldives was a complete hook, line and sinker.

New resorts are continuously being developed to accommodate the growing number of visitors. From 2023 to 2024, seven will open in the atolls, bringing the total number of operational resorts to 175, the Ministry of Tourism said. The government has played an active role in shaping the Maldives as a tourist hot spot.

Although Russian and Chinese tourists have long dominated the market, more Americans are making the trek to the Maldives as interest in ecotourism grows, Thaufeeq said. Sixty-four percent of Americans surveyed in Booking.com’s 2024 Travel Forecast said they are looking for sustainable accommodation.

Today’s resorts offer the same beloved beach experience while pushing the limits of what they can offer travelers.

Part of a Maldives-owned Sun Siyam Resorts, the all-inclusive Siyam World offers guests more than they could ever imagine that sets it apart from the many other resorts.

The 133-acre resort, which opened in 2021, offers the classic sunset cruise, snorkeling and dolphin cruise excursions, as well as the largest floating water park in the Indian Ocean and a FIFA-standard soccer field. Guests can choose from water activities such as flyboarding, e-surfing, and the self-proclaimed world’s first underwater jetpack.

The face of the climate crisis

While frolicking in the water, some tourists don’t realize that the Maldives is facing a climate crisis.

Located at an average of 3.77 feet above sea level, the Maldives is highly vulnerable to coastal erosion and sea level rise. In 2018, scientists from the United States Geological Survey predicted that as much as 80% of the Maldives could be uninhabitable by 2050. The islands are particularly susceptible to floods, droughts that affect access to fresh water and storms.

Nearly 45% of resorts reported some type of beach erosion, according to 2015 Maldives Climate Change Policy Framework.

The country is moving quickly to mitigate the damage from climate change.

“From the beginning, the Maldivian tourism industry has been rooted in sustainability,” Thaufeeq said, adding that almost all tourism facilities embrace some sort of sustainability practice.

In February, the Maldivian government partnered with the United States Agency for International Development to launch the Ecotourism Framework and Roadmapwhich designated 90 sites as protected and introduced ecotourism certification.

The street route joins a list of sustainability initiatives in action:

“In the breathtaking paradise of the Maldives, sustainable tourism is not just a concept – it is a commitment to cultivate the very essence of these beautiful islands,” said Erkaiym Tabyldieva, sustainability manager of Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, a resort in Noonu Atoll. .

The resort received the International Sustainable Award from the Luxury Lifestyle Awards in 2023. Not only are plastic bottles eliminated on the property through an in-house water bottling and filtration system, but the resort also collaborates with nearby local islands to host educational workshops on sustainability and sustainability. marine conservation for local youth. The resort also shreds and composts green waste on property.

Despite resorts like Iru Fushi making every effort, rising sea levels threaten their future.

Tabyldieva said the sustainability team is “constantly brainstorming solutions,” such as dams and mangrove trees.

Responsible tourism

Travelers to the Maldives can reduce their environmental impact on the island nation while immersing themselves in Maldivian culture.

“The Maldives has an equally vibrant soul, pulsating with a rich cultural heritage that stretches back centuries and awaits you wherever you go,” Thaufeeq said. She recommends travelers go beyond the confines of their resorts and seek out local markets in the capital, Malé—where most travelers arrive before boarding a seaplane or speedboat to their final destination— or visit a traditional fishing village.

Iru Fushi offers an excursion that takes guests by boat to a nearby island to visit the village and support the local shops and restaurants.

Tabyldieva added that when exploring the ocean, guests should be careful not to step on or touch coral reefs. Most resorts have a marine biologist on site ready to educate and help keep the reef healthy.

In addition, visitors can pack their own waste, including empty toilet bottles, to dispose of upon returning home, given the pressing waste management challenges faced by the islands.

“Through these thoughtful actions, your Maldivian trip becomes a mutually enriching experience, fostering a positive impact for both you and the local community,” said Thaufeeq.

Why the Maldives got on everyone’s bucket list in the last 50 years

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