The Community Based Tourism Potentiality in the Republic of Maldives

Abstract

          The Republic of Maldives is a tourist destination that is popular around the world.  Having the terrain of 1,190 islands, Maldives is locatedin the central Indian Ocean and the islands are groupedinto 26 coralreef islands, which have unique tourist resources, attracting people from all over the world. In 1983, the government of the Republic of Maldives has opened a concession to both domestic and foreign accommodation investment on uninhabited island. The policy "One Island One Hotel" was so successful the Republic of Maldives became a popular destination, but with local people, because each island has no Maldivian inhabitants.

          Considering the Republic of Maldives' community-based tourism potential, in spite of its outstanding natural and cultural resources,  The country is still lacking of community organization, tourism management and educational program, hence the need to develop the country's tourism  community participation to make tourism industry in the country more concrete.

          From the study of the country's potential, The Republic of Maldives had community- based tourism potentiality, but still lacking of community organization, having conflict with tourist brand image, being capable to develop with Thailand tourism model to create community knowledge-base and Maldives' way of life  image which would develop the country's tourism potential to establish sustainable tourism in the Republic of Maldives.