Maldives - tourism and development

Question 1

Give 3 facts about the Maldives

Answer 1

The Maldives is a collection of nearly 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean.
Many of the islands are
uninhabited and none lie more than 1.8 m above sea level.
The country is classified as a MIC.

Question 2

How has tourism grown?

Answer 2

• opened it’s first resort in 1972 - since then tourism has increased significantly
  majority of tourists are from europe, and come to see the coral reefs, beaches and sea
• tourists spend over $200 million a year, generating the biggest income for the country (more than fishing, the second biggest source of income)

Question 3

Managing tourism in the Maldives

Answer 3

• closely monitored by the governement by the Ministry of Tourism
• for each new island resort made, one island must be left as a nature reserve
• any new resorts must only be 2 storeys high
• only 20% of the land area of an island can be built on

Question 4

Impact of tourism (positive)

Answer 4

• the gross national income (GNI per capita) is increasing
• 11% of maldives population employed in the tourism industry
• generates around $600 million a year and make sup about 90% of the governments tax income
• money has been reinvested - advances in healthcare means the life expectancy has now reached 78 years

Question 5

Impact of tourism (negative)

Answer 5

• foreign companies own many of the resorts, so a lot of money leaves the country
• resorts owned by Maldivian people have created big divides between the rich and the poor
• enrolment in education is decreasing and there are still high levels of debt