Maldives: The World’s Tourist Paradise From Asia’s Smallest Country
Maldives, the smallest country in Asia and ranked in the top 10 smallest countries in the world, is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean with nearly 1,200 coral islands. Of which, about 200 islands are inhabited. Known as a “tourist paradise,” Maldives attracts millions of tourists every year thanks to its stunning beauty and unique recreational activities.
Maldives: A Beautiful Tourist Paradise
Although it only has an area of 298 km², Maldives stands out with its small, narrow, fragile, and lush islands in the middle of the vast ocean. This country has transformed from an isolated, economically underdeveloped land into one of the world’s leading beach destinations. Each year, Maldives welcomes about 1.7 million tourists, and tourism revenue currently accounts for more than 30% of the country’s GDP.
Maldives is famous for its white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and luxury resorts that float on the sea. Visitors can participate in many exciting activities from swimming, diving to exploring coral reefs, fishing, to high-end experiences such as flying a seaplane to see the archipelago from above or enjoying dinner at an underwater restaurant.
Accommodation Options: Luxury Resorts or Exploring Local Culture
The Maldives has many private islands, and traveling between islands can be quite complicated. Choosing where to stay will largely determine your experience. Luxury resorts located far from the capital Malé often offer high-class service, but you will mainly enjoy the resort’s amenities. In contrast, staying on the inhabited islands such as Maafushi and Malé will give you the opportunity to learn about local culture, although these islands have fewer beautiful beaches and restrictions on beach attire due to religious regulations.
Travel to Maldives
The Maldives can be explored at any time of year, with cool weather, fresh natural scenery and beautiful sunshine.
To get to the Maldives, you can fly to a major city like Salzburg or Vienna, then travel by train or bus to the center of the Maldives. The Maldives offers a visa-free stay for all visitors for 30 days, as long as your passport is valid for at least 6 months.
Environmental Threat: Could the Maldives Disappear?
The Maldives is not only a great destination, but it is also facing the risk of disappearing due to rising sea levels. About 80% of the island nation lies just 2 meters below sea level. With climate change and rising sea levels, the Maldives could disappear by 2050.
In 2004, a tsunami caused 20 of the Maldives’ islands to sink into the sea, and the government considered evacuating the entire population. Currently, Maldives is actively building artificial islands and anti-flooding works to protect this island nation.
Maldives is not only a tourist paradise but also a reminder of the importance of environmental protection. Enjoy the beauty of Maldives before it is too late and do your part to protect this paradise for future generations.
