Friday, July 20, 2018
International tourists are rushing to the Maldives in ever-greater numbers in spite of a protest abroad over the strongman president’s attack on political disagree and the locking up of opponents, official figures showed.
The number of visitors visiting the white-sanded Indian Ocean archipelago increased 10 percent year-on-year to 726,515 in the first half of this year, according to tourism ministry data released yesterday.
President Abdulla Yameen forced a 45-day state of emergency in February to push away impeachment after the top court ruled that nine rebel MPs have been removed by Yameen be reinstated.
The chief justice and another Supreme Court judge were detained along with Yameen’s half-brother, a former strongman leader who ruled for 30 years until 2008. Elections are set for September 23.
Deep concern has been shown by Washington and the European Union on Monday that it could inflict sanctions on significant figures if the situation does not get better.
With its pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters, tourism is the foundation of the economy of Maldives, accounting for a quarter of the country’s output.
Almost 1.39 million tourists visited the Maldives, a nation of 1,192 tiny coral islands spread all over the equator, last year, up eight percent compared to 2016.
Tags: Maldives tourism
