Political Upheaval in Maldives has Tour Operators Seeking Alternatives.

(Dive Travel Business News - Feb 20, 2012) -- Recent political turmoil in the Maldives have triggered global tour operating companies to look into alternatives for their tourist clients.  The mutiny by sections of the country’s police on Feb 6, facilitated a coup d'etat and the ousting of elected President Mohamed Nasheed, causing international concern. Other Indian Ocean islands, like Mauritius and the Seychelles, are ready to accommodate tourists initially booked for the Maldives or intent to book their holiday there, should the political situation worsen and compel tour operators to seek safe alternatives.

The day after the coup, the people of Maldives rallied en-masse around deposed President Mohamed Nasheed in a peaceful demonstration in Malé. The police and the army violently repressed the demonstration by beating civilians, women, and the elderly, including members of leaders of the opposition, parliament, and the media.  

The civil unrest forced foreign ministries in the UK, Australia, Germany, the U.S. and China to issue travel advisories that warn the traveling public of the potential for political unrest, that could affect the smooth operation of the Maldives International Airport and of holiday resorts.  

While newly appointed Maldivian president Mohamed Waheed Hassan told media despite political crisis no tourists have been affected, daily protests against the radical new government has international tour operators and airlines seeking alternatives, should the islands descend into full-scale political unrest.  

In 2008, Maldives had its first ever-democratic elections, ending a 30-year dictatorship led by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. After years of struggle, human rights abuses, and the absence of separation of powers and basic rights, the people of Maldives were at last given a new constitution, ensuring separation of powers and the right to choose their president for a 5-year term.

The new government of Maldives was 3.5 years into its term of government, institutionalizing democracy and reforming its economic and fiscal policies to allow greater redistribution of tourism revenues when on February 6, 2012, democratically-elected Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed was overthrown by a coup d’état led by opposition parties, some members of the police, the military, and Islamist groups that are influenced by the former regime,  and a number of business tycoons.

With his recent accession to power, newly-installed President Dr. Waheed sacked the entire former government and formed a cabinet with ministers who had served the dictatorship of President Gayoom causing daily protests in the capital of Male where civilians are demanding an early democratic election. Although the demonstrations are occurring mainly in the capital Malé and the islands, visitors to the Maldives could face industrial actions, strikes, and other form of protests from the Maldivian staff working in resorts owned by business tycoons suspected to have financed the coup.

Maldives tourism problems began earlier this year when the Maldives opposition demanded the immediate shut down of all spas in every resort across the islands, alleging that they were anti-islamic and a front for prostitution and brothels. The former democratically-elected government agreed to the demand, but then made a swift U-turn when it became evident that tourism would suffer huge setbacks should the decision be allowed to stand.

Soon after, the Maldives International Airport handling charges were unilaterally raised by 50 percent. Airlines servicing the gateway protested and threatened reduction of air services to the island’s sole international airport, raising the spectre of fewer seats and fewer tourists coming for vacations.  

Geoffrey Lipman, President of the International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP), an alliance of destinations that believes in green growth, commented: "I know President Nasheed, and he has been a global champion of the climate change issue, and as such, he certainly stands in the forefront of leaders who advocate transformation to the green economy. His vision for tourism and its role as an enabler of transformation is one that any believer in our sector has to embrace - sustainable growth with responsibility, in lockstep with carrying capacity and with full inclusion of the interest of local stakeholders.

"The eyes of the world will help keep the playing field level, which is what he's calling for, and we will keep our eyes firmly fixed on what is happening and lend our voice to the calls for a fair democratic process," said Lipman.

Maldives, a small archipelago in the Indian Ocean, has long been a divers' paradise. Around 850,000 mostly high-end tourists visited the Maldives last year and the country was voted the world's number one island destination by readers of Conde Nast Traveller in 2011.

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