Maldives, a tropical island nation with 1190 islands scattered over 20 administrative atolls is an ecstatic location situated in the hearts of the Indian Ocean. Words cannot explain its uniqueness, peacefulness, and privacy; palm fringed, sun-drenched beaches, turquoise lagoons, and coral reefs teeming with a varied underwater terrain that hosts one of the world’s richest marine life.
Maldivians are proud of these facts, and striving to present to the rest of the World.

Economic Factors

Several factors determine the health of an economy. GDP growth rate fell by 1.4 percent in 2008; this is mainly related to the slow-down in tourism sector. In addition the economy is running on high inflation of around 12%, which further increases the costs associated to the tourism support industries/sectors in terms of escalating prices of goods and services.

Tourism Industry

According to World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO, 2009) average annual growth rate of tourist arrivals in the world had been 4.1%. Maldives on the other hand, had experienced average growth over the years totalling 8.5% per year.

Investing in the Maldives

Maldives was ranked the highest in the region (by World Bank’s 2006 Investment Climate Assessment) in terms of World Bank’s ease of doing business index. Below some foreign hotel chains and brands already established in Maldives.