Maldives

Independent since 1965, and a republic since 1968, The Maldives is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement. It maintains a very cordial relationship with the international community.

Under the leadership of President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, the country is a champion of global peace and preservation of the environment. The population of the country currently stands at about 300,000. A Common language (Dhivehi) and religion (Islam) unite the people into a cohesive, peaceful society. Tradition is valued though not at the expense of development and modernization. Maldivians are generally not race conscious. The country has been inhabited for at least 25 centuries. The Maldives comprises about 1190 islands grouped into atolls protected by surrounding coral reefs.

Coconut palms and various tropical plants grow in abundance of most islands. The Maldives straddles the equator and has a tropical climate. The southwest monsoon brings most of the rain, mostly around June and July. Normally the skies are clear during the north east monsoon. As of the early 1970’s tourism has burgeoned in the Maldives. Surfers, divers, beach buffs, game fishermen and the sea lover find Maldives ideal.

The Maldives has increasingly become extremely accessible, especially by air. Scheduled and charter flights operate on a regular basis from points of origin in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Visitors are issued thirty-day tourist visa on arrival. Apart from normal Customs and Port Health formalities, nothing stands in the way of the inbound guest and his tropical holiday.