Tourism in Maldives

Tourism in Maldives has been the mainstay of the country's economy from time immemorial. For centuries, travelers from all over Asia have used Maldives either as a major trading hub or as a tourist destination. In both the cases, tourism in Maldives has witnessed a substantial progression over the years.

The smallest country in Asia, Maldives is known for its breathtaking splendor and fascinating islands. Its boundless natural beauty has been the main luring factor for tourists from all over the world. Whether it is adventure, water sports, honeymoon or a business deal, holidays in Maldives are desired by one and all.
Hotels and resorts in Maldives are known for their insuperable services, sumptuous food, world-class facilities and endearing hospitality. All this has helped foster the growth of tourism in Maldives, which has in turn produced huge profits for the hospitality sector.
The first Maldivian resort was developed in the year 1972 in the capital city of Male. Known as Vihamanaafushi, it was meant to accommodate 60 guests. In 1975, Maldives hosted a mere 9,000 tourists.
By 1995, this figure touched the 2,50,000 mark. And, in 2003, Maldives played host to about 5,00,000 visitors. There are more than 100 resorts in the country now.
Initially, the only mode of air travel to Maldives was through Air Ceylon, which operated a small 50-seater aircraft between Colombo and Male. However, today, this island nation boasts of a comprehensive transportation network, with some of the world's biggest airlines operating their flights here.
Tourism in Maldives earns foreign exchange in profusion, thus putting it on the priority list of administrators. Constant efforts are being made for improvisation of tourism facilities to lure more and more travelers into Maldives.