With over 1200 islands, the Maldives offers visitors an overwhelming variety of historical, cultural and natural attractions. Although the islands are small, the marine territory of this archipelago covers about 90,000 square kilometres.
Tourists enjoy the rich biodiversity, the clear waters and the abundant, varied marine life.
Tourism began in 1972, with two resorts that offered visitors 280 beds. The industry has expanded rapidly over the past 20 years and is now the largest in the country. Within the tourism sector, scuba diving is the main attraction. The cost varies between operators and depends largely on the type of holiday package the tourist divers are pursuing and the time of the year they visit. The total revenue generated from tourism may help decisions on whether to aggressively pursue a policy of conservation or exploitation of wild resources.