The ‘clean and green environment’ is among the top selling points for the Maldive resorts. Over the last thirty years these islands have made their mark in the world tourism market and set new standards for sustainable tourism development. Besides obtaining world-wide recognition for the sun, sand and sea holidays that it offers, Maldives has also made a special case of its plight in the face of global environmental change.
The seriousness of the threat posed by climate change particular attention is given to coastal protection, freshwater management and coral reef protection. Breakwaters and seawalls have been constructed around the capital Male’. Coral mining from house reefs of inhabited islands and resorts is banned. In 1989 the first National Environmental Action Plan was developed forming a base for future actions to prevent environmental hazards.
The Maldives participated in the Second World Climatic Conference in 1990 and the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. In 1994 Maldives participated in the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States and in 1997 participated in the Kyoto Conference. Also in 1997 the 13th Intergovernmental Panel on Climatic Change was held in the Maldives Over exploitation of natural resources are restricted. For example coral mining is banned in certain areas. Killing of turtles, which is under threat of extinction, is banned and visitors are discouraged from buying objects made from turtle shell.
Projects on regeneration of ecosystems are conducted in some areas and a “Million Tree Programme” was initiated by the President of Maldives, His Excellency Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom in 1996. In 1997 many activities were carried out under the theme “Independent Maldives, Clean Maldives,” where cleaning and waste collecting activities were carried out nation wide.
Tourism development in the Maldives continues to set new high standards for the global tourism industry. They are now able to sell a premium tourism product in the environmentally conscious high-end tourist market. Maldivian resorts are renowned for their environmental caring and resorts, frequently win international awards and accolades. The tourists who come to Maldives themselves act as stewards of the environment, and they highly appreciate that.