Ecotourism, on the other hand, can help to conserve biodiversity. If there is a decline in marine wildlife, the Maldives would attract far fewer ecotravellers. The Maldives can be readily marketed as an excellent venue for ecotourists. A dynamic wildlife tourist industry can lead to relatively high returns, provided that the protected areas of the Maldives are properly managed and exploitation is not pursued indiscriminately. The most significant threats to the protected areas of Maldives are illegal fishing and coral mining on or near the protected reefs.
Ecotourism can generate adequate funds in the form of fee collection from divers.
These funds could also be used for community development of reserve areas and for carrying out biological and market research on alternative options for fishermen whose lives are affected by the protected areas.