Pristine Agency Reviews The Maldives, Unrest and Tourism Today
Political unrest is threatening the current state of tourism in the Maldives. The government of the Maldives has declared a state of emergency which may cause tourists to avoid this Indian Ocean paradise.
HENDERSON, Nev., Nov. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In a country which already deals with hardships and security issues, tourism has long played a significant role in the economic stability of the Maldives. Now, with a president threatening to take away civil liberties and tourists wondering about the safety of the country, many wonder how large of a toll this will have on the country. Pristine Agency reviews more about this country and what is going on that has the world concerned with travel to the Maldives.
The Maldives are a group of islands located in the Indian Ocean. Made up of over 1,000 islands, spread out over 35,000 square miles, the Maldives is considered one of the most geographically dispersed countries in the world. It also holds the unique title of having the lowest, natural, highest point in the world at just over 7 feet 10 inches, these islands are infamous for their over-water bungalows and luxury island resorts.
Although no current warnings or alerts have been issued by the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy Colombo, Sri Lanka, has issued a security message for all U.S. Citizens in the Maldives. This alert advises that the Government of Maldives has declared a 30-day state of emergency which places limits on certain rights under the Maldivian Constitution including the freedom of movement and assembly. While the government does state outright that there are now restrictions on tourist movements, many who had planned on visiting the Maldives are now cancelling plans for fear of either their safety or out of support for the Maldivian people.
With protests and assassination attempts to government leaders, in a country now facing what amounts to martial law, some tourists are concerned for their safety but without tourism, the Maldives face economic uncertainty.
The tourism industry grew in 2015 to their highest numbers in history, according to the Ministry of Tourism of the Maldives. According to their records, over 120,000 people visited in February 2015 which beat February 2014's total of 110,705, the highest number of tourists in a month in the region to date.
As always, travelers are advised to make sure they know any potential risks that exist at their destination of travel. Before traveling abroad, U.S. citizens are advised to research their destination. Begin by visiting the U.S. Department of State online at travel.state.gov.
Pristine Agency is a members-only travel service located in Henderson, Nevada, and offering members access to a wide array of travel benefits to destinations worldwide.
PRLog ID: www.prlog.org/12508709
SOURCE Pristine Agency
Share this article