Visit Maldives
General
Tourism, an expert from the UNDP reported to the government prior to 1971, will never succeed in the Maldives because there are no facilities, no infrastructure.
No one told that to three young men who, by chance, became the pioneers of the country’s tourism industry. One of them, Ahmed Naseem, a young diplomat attached to the Maldives Embassy in Colombo met in 1971 an Italian travel agent who was looking for virgin islands where he and his friends could swim and spear fish. Naseem travelled with him to the Maldives by cargo ship and introduced him to M U Maniku, then in the government’s agricultural department, and ‘Champa’ Hussain Afeef, who was working in the UN office in Male’.
The Italian told them he would bring groups to the Maldives in 1972, if they could provide accommodation. Pooling their resources, they hosted the first group in their own homes in Male’, learning to cook what the Italian tourists wanted and taking them around the islands.
Then they leased an uninhabited island, Vihamanafushi, built 30 coconut thatched huts on it, and welcomed the first organised groups of tourists to the resort they named Kurumba (the Dhivehi word for coconut) on 3 October 1972.
It is estimated that nearly half the guests on holiday in the Maldives arrive with the intention of snorkelling or diving or, as soon as they see the crystal clear waters of an island’s lagoon and the colourful fish and corals, can’t resist giving it a try. Snorkelling is open to everyone who can swim and even children as young as ten can learn how to scuba dive. It’s easy in the Maldives.
Visitors, mainly from Italy, Sweden and Germany totalled 3,790 in 1973 and by 1978 tourism had become an informal enterprise with guests from Europe staying in 26 resorts. In 1978 regulations were introduced to sustain the industry and reduce its disruptive effect on the social and natural environment.
Tourists were allowed to stay only in registered resorts on uninhabited islands and spear fishing was banned. Customs and immigration controls were introduced. In 1981, the makeshift airport was opened to long-haul flights and tourism took off. By 2007, there were 89 resorts.
In 2010 a law was passed to encourage the development of independent guesthouses on inhabited islands. This enabled even more Maldivians to benefit directly from tourism - and all tourists, whatever their budget, could enjoy a visit to the Maldives.
Things To Do
Contrary to expectations, there is so much to do while staying in the Maldives!
On a resort there are lots of lagoon-based activities, from snorkelling and scuba diving to deep sea fishing or, for the less energetic, hook and line fishing from the side of a dhoni and having the resort prepare your catch for dinner. There are facilities for windsurfing, para-gliding, water-skiing, kayaking, paddle boarding and, for enthusiasts, some enticing surfing.
With 99% of its territory being sea, the Maldives is one of the world’s leading watersports hubs with its environment of islands and turquoise blue waters forming the perfect combination for a natural watersports arena.
Resorts arrange gentle dhoni cruises to spot dolphins leaping and visits to local islands to see the traditional Maldivian way of life or to picnic on a sandbank. There are spas where trained therapists offer a variety of treatments including Ayurveda, a natural herbal system of wellness, and Yoga. For exercise, most resorts have a gymnasium and walking around the island is a fine way of learning about the tropical flora and fauna.
Some resorts organise lessons in cookery or wine tasting or feature talks on the environment, while others have displays of local handicrafts or a mini-museum of ancient maps and artefacts. A visit to Male’ is a chance for shopping and exploration, or to go underwater in the Whale Submarine or take to the air on a chartered photo-flight by seaplane. There are sports such as beach volleyball and futsal to play, and many resorts have billiards and table tennis, as well as indoor games. Satellite television keeps guests in touch with the world, and resorts have WiFi access as well as libraries of movies, magazines and books.
For detailed, up to date information and special enquiries, check www.visitmaldives.com
People & Culture
People
The population of Maldives belongs almost entirely to the Maldivian ethnic group, which is the result of various peoples settling in the islands successively through the country’s history.
The first settlers, it is generally believed, were Tamil and Sinhalese peoples from southern India and Sri Lanka. Traders from Arab countries, Malaya, Madagascar, Indonesia, and China visited the islands through the centuries.
Traditionally whenever guests visit a local island, the islanders will welcome them by serving a fresh coconut drink. This tradition has continued to this day and do not be surprised if your resort offers a beautifully decorated coconut drink when you reach your destination!
The looks of the Maldivian people may differ from one atoll to the other, attributing to the genes passed on by South and Southeast Asians, Africans, and Arabians. The official language is an Indo-European language called Dhivehi (or Maldivian).
The language, Dhivehi, differs in dialect in some regions in the south of Maldives, possibly due to the secluded nature and subsistent ways of island life). Arabic, Hindi, and English are also spoken.
The English word ‘atoll’ derives from Dhivehi (the language of Maldivians): ‘atholhu’ - meaning ‘a ring-shaped reef or chain of islands formed of coral’.
Presently Maldivians are adherents of the Sunni School of Islam. Maldivians embraced Islam in 1153 AD and since then the religion has played a key role in shaping the Maldivian society. Some of the famous landmarks in the country have been greatly influenced by Islamic architecture.
Culture
The islands of the Maldives lay on the trading route of the Indian Ocean. Thus settlers, and visitors from neighboring regions and around the world have come in contact with the islands for as long as history has been recorded. Such is the to-and-fro flow of people and their cultures, that a marked effect has been left in the Maldivian people, the language, beliefs, arts, and attitudes.
Though Maldives was culturally influenced by other traditions, Maldivians have built and preserved an exclusive cultural identity.
The mixing of cultures is very much seen in Maldivian arts. The music played with the local bodu-beru (big-drum) resemble that of African drumming. The dhoni (a unique Maldivian sailboat) is an art form itself built with skilled craftsmanship, with significant similarities to the Arabian dows.
Maldivians are known for being avid craftsmen. The intricate stone carvings found in the Friday Mosque in Male’ is a living example of Maldivian craftsmanship. The mastery and inventiveness of Maldivians can be seen in lacquer works, mat weaving, coir rope making and calligraphy. Traditional dresses and ornaments profess the artistry and creativeness of Maldivian artisans.
The fine artistry of Maldivians represents what we have gained from Southeast Asian architecture. Then there is the undefined: the distinct geometric designs used in mats woven from local materials, the embroidered neckline of women’s traditional dresses and their ornaments too, expose another story brought in from an unknown culture that has seeped in to Maldivian society.
Maldivians inherited a treasure trunk of ancient mythology and folklore that was passed orally through generations. Since the islands are surrounded by sea, most folktales depict fearful sea demons and spirits that haunt the islanders.
Maldivians are quite open to adaptation and are generally welcoming to outside inspiration. The culture has always continued to evolve with the times. Locals still eat fish and fishermen still spend days out at sea, but tourism now takes prominence.
Weather & Climate
Being on the Equator where the sun is hottest, eight hours of brilliant sunshine are almost a daily occurrence in the Maldives, with an average of 230 to 250 hours a month. Expect daytime temperatures to hover around 30 degrees Celsius, dropping to around 23 degrees at night.
The temperature hardly ever changes – which makes packing for your holiday an easy task. Daylight lasts from 06.00 to 18.30hrs; the daily difference in tidal rise and fall is slight.
Maldives, the sunny side of life is blessed with magical and breathtaking displays of sunshine for the better part of a year. Similar to tropical countries, the Maldives enjoys a dry and wet season. Conveniently, the hot and humid weather is complemented with cooling sea breezes and periodic rain.
Rain? Rarely but, when it happens, it’s warm and tropical, refreshing the vegetation while the sea develops waves to thrill surfers. The wettest months are May and November but even then, the average rainfall is low and amounts to around 2,133mm annually.
Maldives has two distinct seasons; the Northeast (Iruvaa meaning easterly winds) from December to April and the Southwest (Hulhangu indicating stronger winds) from May to November. This is dubbed the rainy season only because that’s the period when it might rain.
The warm temperatures will allow you to go for a walk in the rain, a verdant, wet, thoroughly enjoyable experience. For extra exhilaration, take a swim in the rain – the sea will be extra warm. Cloudy skies and slate grey seas, and crashing thunder makes up for lovely reading weather.
For more information about weather in the Maldives, visit www.meteorology.gov.mv
