IB Geography Presentation

1. TOURISM IN THE MALDIVES
Presentation by
Phionah Baluku and Jean Prime Nishimwe

2.  Small islands have relied on tourism as a major
economic development
 Islands of the Caribbean and Mediterranean have
large scale, high density resort complexes with short
visitor stays
 There is gradual replacement of artificial attraction
with natural and cultural amenities
 Since the 1990s, tourism preference has shifted to
remote islands like the St Lucia in the Caribbean, the
Maldives and Seychelles in the Indian ocean and
French Polynesia in the South Pacific
Tourism in Small Island Developing
States (SIDS)

3.  Has an archipelago of 1,190 tiny islands
 200 are inhabited by its population
 Has a population of 300,000 people
 Located 3 ͦ north of the latitude
 Islands experience tropical monsoon climate with hot
(26-31 ͦ c) and humid conditions most of the year. Has
dry season from October to April
 There are 400,000 tourists who visit annually
 They are attracted by the sun-sea-sand
Facts on the Maldives

4. Location of the Maldives
 The Republic of
Maldives, is a South
Asian island country,
located in the Indian
Ocean, situated in the
Arabian Sea. It lies
southwest of India and
Sri Lanka.
 (Wikipedia)  Cooke and Naggle (pg. 245)

5. The growth of tourism in the
Maldives
 Tourist demand and
revenue grew annually
at rate of 5% between
1990 and 2009
 The rate has fallen and
is predicted to average
2% between 2010 and
2020
 This is due to external
shocks from either
natural disasters or
human activity or both
Cooke and Naggle (pg. 245)

6.  Accounts for 28% of GDP and more than 60% of
foreign exchange receipts
 Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from
import duties
 Tourism development has improved country’s
economy
 Has created employment opportunities in related
industries through multiplier effect
Economic importance of tourism to the
Maldives

7. 1. Sea level rise
 Lowest country on planet
 Average ground level is 1.5 metres above sea level
 Sea level increased rose globally by 20 cm in the last
century
 This led to flooding and soil erosion
 Estimated to rise further by 59 cm in 2100
Problems from external shocks

8.  2. Tsunamis
 The islands are in a tectonically active zone
 They were badly affected by the Asian tsunami of 2004 in
December
 Killed 100, displaced 12,000 and damaged property worth
$300 million
 Tourist demand fell and GDP reduced by 4.6% in 2005
 Tried to recover tourists through reconstruction however,
they were affected by high oil prices and the import of
construction materials needed to rebuild resorts
Problems from external shocks

9. Problems from external shocks
3. Economic recession
 Since world economic
recession of 2008,
growth stagnated for all
sectors.
 National economy relies
a lot on tourism with a
limited source area
supplying 70% of all
tourists
Changes in the contribution to GDP by
economic sector in the Maldives

 Cooke and Naggle (pg. 245)

10. 1. Depletion of resources
 Tourists consume more water and energy that
Maldivians
 Both resources are expensive to produce
 Most of the water is from desalination
 Groundwater supply is reducing and is contaminated
by sewage or salt water spread
Problems from internal shocks

11.  All energy is produced by generator except on Male
and Hulhulé islands
 The Maldives have no economic minerals and their
agriculture is low
2. Pollution
 Tourists produce high solid and liquid waste
 Solid waste is either dumped to the sea or poorly
managed sites
Problems from internal shocks

12. The environment
 New tourism development sites must undergo an
environmental impact assessment to measure
potential construction carrying capacity
 Developers must produce a mitigation plan against
flooding
 This must include 40 m setback from high water
mark, maximum of 20% land coverage by buildings
and a building height restriction to tree top level
How Maldives is responding to the
threats

13.  Building materials like sand and aggregate must be
imported from India though there is a possibility of
recycling demolition and building waste
 Waste management
 There is compulsory installation of incinerators, bottle
crushers and compactors in all resorts
 Sewage disposal in the soak-pits through the aquifer
is discouraged. New resort developments must have
their own wastewater treatment plants
How Maldives is responding to the
threats

14.  Installation of desalination water plants in tourist
resorts
 President Mohamed Nasheed pledged to make
Maldives carbon neutral within a decade- encouraging
development of solar and wind energy
 In 2009, he held an underwater cabinet meeting to
emphasize his statement
How Maldives is responding to the
threats

15.  Maldivian government aims to diversify the economy
through construction, manufacturing and transport
 Encouraging foreign investment in development of
new resorts, broadening tourism market by
promoting domestic tourism and attracting visitors
from China and India
 Goal is to increase employment
The economy

16.  Cooke, Brion and Naggle Garrett. Geography Course
Companion. New York: Oxford University Press. 2011
Reference