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MALDIVES
Maldives Destination Fact Sheet .jpg "MaldivesAerial_Maldives_3_(Small).jpg") Images Courtesy of Maldives Tourism www.visitmaldives.com TOURISM • There are currently 89 resorts in the Maldives with a total of 20,700 resort beds available. • A further 35 islands have been released for development as resorts, thereby spreading tourism across the whole of the Maldives and increasing bed capacity by 8,600. • The new resort islands will be located in the new Central and Southern Tourism Zones, served by the airport at Gan and other regional airports. • Visitors will be able to choose two direct gateways to the Maldives the existing airport at Malé and the new international at Gan. • The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) predicts that arrivals to Maldives are likely to increase by 6.8% in 2006 and 2007, bringing the expected figure to around 658,000 per year. GEOGRAPHY • The Maldives is an archipelago of 1,190 coral islands located in the Indian Ocean, 600km South of India and 670km west of Sri Lanka • Some 200 islands are inhabited. • The Maldives’ islands are one of the lowest-lying island nations • The islands stretch for 820km, it is a maximum of 130km wide • The total land area is 298sq km • The population in the Maldives is around 300,000 • 1/3 of the population live in the capital Malé • The average temperature year-round is 29 - 32°C .jpg "MaldivesAerial_Maldives_(Small).jpg") INDUSTRY AND ECONOMY • Over the last 20 years the economy has grown 10% each year • Tourism contributes at least 33% of GDP overall and almost 70% of all economic activities are linked to tourism • Whilst tourism is the main industry, it is closely followed by fisheries and trade • More than 70% of economic activities are related to tourism • Apart from the 89 tourist resorts, and the 200 inhabited islands, the rest of the islands are uninhabited and can be used for drying fish or other agricultural activities • Development in the Maldives is very carefully monitored – resorts are not allowed to be build higher than the tallest palm tree on the island CULTURE • The Maldives gained its independence from Britain in 1965 on 26 July • “DHIVEHI” is the official language of the Maldives and Maldivians are called "DHIVEHIN” • English is widely spoken • The Maldives’ were settled by Aryans from India and Sri Lanka as early as 1500BC. The islands have always been a popular stopping off point for African, Arab and South East Asian mariners. • The Maldives converted to Islam in the 12th Century. The population is 100% Sunni Muslim and there are 28 mosques in Malé alone • There is a 98% literacy rate and schools follow the British system of teaching • The Maldives National Museum contains a beautiful collection of coral carvings, however it is now illegal to remove coral from the sea bed. • It is advisable for women to wear modest clothing when visiting Malé and local islands. • Fish is sold daily in the afternoon fish markets with tuna being the main catch • There are no personal or corporate taxes CONSERVATION • The eco system in the Maldives is highly fragile and the government has imposed many restrictions to protect and preserve it. • In 1989 the Government’s first National Environmental Action Plan was developed • Malé has been enclosed with a sea wall to reduce the impending hazards of climate change and sea level rise. PRACTICAL INFORMATION • Local time is GMT +5 hours, although some resorts have their own time zone • The Maldives currency is the Rufiyaa but the US \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$ is most commonly used • Flight times are 11- 12 hours from the UK • December to April is the peak season • Electricity is 230- 240 volts which is the same as the UK • The mobile networks in the Maldives are Dhiraguu and Wataniya • Business hours in the Maldives are 7. 30 – 2.30 for government business and 9 - 5 for privately run businesses, Sunday to Thursday • The international dialling code is 00960 FLIGHTS AND DEPARTURE LOGISTICS • SriLankan Airlines is the only airline to fly direct and non-stop to the Maldives from London Heathrow. Lead-in price is £530. Direct flights from LHR to Malé operate on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. All other daily flights are via Colombo. • Other airlines to Malé from LHR, Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester include - Emirates who fly five times a week via Dubai and Qatar who offer daily flights via Colombo, Dubai or Doha • In addition to Malé International Airport there are 4 domestic airports located at Hanimaadhoo/Haa Dhaal Atoll, Khadhoo/Laamu Atoll, Khaadedhoo/Gaafu Dhaal Atoll and Gan/Seenu Atoll • Two companies operate sea plane flights and transfers: Trans Maldivian Airways and Maldivian Air Taxi; and Island Aviation operates domestic fixed wheel aeroplane flights. • Vaccinations are advised 10 days prior to departure: Diphtheria, Typhoid, Tetanus, Hepatitis A and Polio are strongly advised • British citizens need a full Passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of return. • Up to a 30- day visa is given on arrival. • Speed boats or sea planes are used to reach many resorts and islands _(Small).jpg "MaldivesLaguna_(heron)_(Small).jpg") ACTIVITIES • There are many land and sea based activities such as surfing, wind-surfing, bird-watching, deep sea fishing and lagoon fly-fishing • As the Maldives are among the least polluted waters in the world, diving is very popular • All resorts offer diving courses • Whale spotting is also very popular and is common between August and October • Shopping is popular in Chandani Bazzaar in Malé • Traditional teahouses provide a taste of Maldivian culture • Many hotels and resorts offer traditional and alternative spa treatments, often on the beach and even over water. • Golf is available at Kuredu and Meeru resorts. .jpg "MaldivesDhoni_(Small).jpg")
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