Tourist Spots and Must-see in Maldives
Maldives, or the Republic of Maldives, is a country made up of a cluster of picturesque isles arrayed like a garland of pearls in the Indian Ocean. The archipelago is typically described by tourists as a paradise, even “heaven on earth.” The 1,190 coral islands constitute an irresistible destination for experienced scuba divers, vacationers, honeymooners, amateur anthropologists, and common sightseeing tourists. Not surprisingly, the nation’s chief industry is tourism (with fishing second), and thus the government has given it the bulk of its support.
Romantic Maldives
Statistics have it that the majority of tourists who come to the Maldives Islands are repeat visitors — such is the addicting appeal of the pristine beauty of the whole place. Situated where there is abundant sunshine all year round — just above the equator, that is, latitudes 4°17’ North and longitudes 73°50’ East, close to India and Sri Lanka — the islands boast of serene seas, relaxing white beaches, and many soothing resorts and spas, yet also feature a bustling bounty of thrilling blue water sports events. Modern conveniences and amenities are available everywhere. The time zone is GMT +5. The official language is Dhivehi, while the Rufiyaa (US$1 = MRf12.75) is the nation’s currency. English is widely used.
Tourism is one key factor to Maldives’ rich and booming economy. Last June 22, Maldives was awarded the title ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination’ in the World Travel Awards 2008. It is of no doubt that Maldives owes much of its progress and success to its tourism industry – to the sites and destinations that attract local and foreign tourists. And this industry is indeed growing as the number of resorts, hotels and arrivals of tourists continue to increase at significant rates.
Perpetual Bliss
The capital, Male, is said to be the smallest urban capital in the entire world. It is only about 10 minutes by boat from Male International Airport, which is in Hulhule Island. There are daily connecting flights from other countries. The main attraction of the islands, a memorable escape from the hubbub of city life, can be had by the weary traveller after only as few as 7 kilometres from the airport. The traveller has a choice of either a dhoni (ferry) ride, seaplane ride, or helicopter ride for travelling between islands.
There are plenty of choices for a traveller intent on taking in the sights and looking to visit the not-to-be-missed spots. The word “atoll” is originally a Dhivehi word (atholhu, meaning a group of islands with a reef that nearly encloses a lagoon), and thus one should not miss seeing the country’s well-known atolls and beaches. There is no shortage of luxury island resort hotels, but it should be noted that they are designed to cater only for a limited number of guests to ensure high levels of service quality. Each island typically has only one hotel operating exclusively, but there are from two to five restaurants in a typical resort. In addition, a trip to Maldives should include a sampling of the islands’ numerous dive sites, snorkelling attractions and windsurfing facilities — and that means all of the atolls.
Sunset in Maldives
You will find on this site more detailed information and further links as you go on to the next pages. We will try to show comparative information on the resort hotels, spas, transport services, and the like, to help make your trip to the Maldives Islands all the more enjoyable and memorable.
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