|
|
The Maldives is not blessed with many natural resources
except for her beauty and the riches of the sea. In fact, 99% of
its territory consists of water. Hence it is not surprising that
tourism and fishing are the major industries of the country.
Agriculture is practiced only on a limited scale, as the land is
not very fertile. The diversity of the flora is limited to a few
tropical fruit and vegetables, root crops and others. The
essentials and consumer goods are not manufactured because of
the lack of resources. Almost everything required for living has
to be imported.
During seventies and early eighties the Maldivian economy was
based on three major industries, fishing, tourism and shipping.
Though Maldives has traditionally relied on fishing it also had
developed a modest merchant fleet in the region called Maldives
Shipping Limited (MSL). However, today shipping is a minor actor
in the Maldives where only two industries dominate the economy.
Fishing provides most employment to the inhabitants while the
tourism controls the major foreign exchange.
Notwithstanding the scarcity of resources in the Maldives, the
past two decades have experienced a phenomenal growth of the
economy. In fact, Maldives is one of the few countries which
enjoys an annual GDP growth rate of 6.0%. The main activities in
the modern industrialization arena includes fish canning,
manufacture of garments, bottled of aerated water and fizzy
drinks, brick making, refrigeration, transportation, banking,
and insurance. These activities are significant in today's
economy.
Other minor industries in the Maldives consist of building and
construction, boat-building, rope-making, blacksmith,
handicraft, lacquer work and other cottage industries.
FISHING
To Top
Traditionally fishery is the main occupation and major
livelihood of the Maldivians. It is also the second largest
industry in the Maldives. The main methods of fishing are pole
and line for skipjack tuna. Surface trolling is done for little
tuna, frigate mackerel, Wahoo and jacks. The main composition of
fish catch is skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), representing
50-75% of the total catch. The second most important fish caught
is the yellowfin tuna (Thunus albacaraes). The main fish
products exported are; frozen fish, canned fish, dried fish and
salted dry fish. The traditional fishing vessel is a sailing
dhoni not about less than 15 feet long. Thatch sail were also
used in the early days of fishing. Clothe sails and rowing is
common in traditional fishing practice. The Maldivian fishery is
famous in the world for its dolphin friendliness.
The mechanization of fishing vessels revolutionized the
Maldivian fishing industry. It enabled the fisherman to travel
much farther distances, than were possible when sailed boats
were in use. It meant that the
direction and speed of the wind
were no longer determinants of the distances traveled by
fishermen in search of fish. Establishment of cold storage
facilities was another important landmark in the development of
the fisheries industry. In 1997 average number of mechanized
fishing (dhonis) vessels engaged in fishing were 1,328. Catches
of tuna and other tuna like species tripled from 30,000 metric
tons to 100,000 metric tons in 1994. The total catch of fish
increased to 107,358.17 metric tons. Haa Alif, Raa and Baa,
Lhaviyani, Kaafu, Thaa, Laamu and Gaafu are the principle
fishing atolls representing about 75% of total fish landings.
In the past Maldives exported tuna primarily in the dried and
smoked form called hiki kandumas or 'Maldive Fish' to Sri Lanka.
In 1971 due to reduction in purchase of 'Maldive Fish' there was
a strong need for diversification of the product and market.
Maldives also exported other form of fish products to Japan and
Thailand. In 1982 the export of fish was severely affected
because of the drop in negotiated export prices caused by world
recession and decline of demand for the Japanese companies which
had been regularly buying fish from Malé.
However, the government of the Maldives stepped in to take over
the collection and canning facilities of Japanese company, which
had withdrawn from the country. Authorities ensured that the
procurement prices paid to the fishermen were maintained. Later
better prices were negotiated with some buyers in Thailand and
other countries.
The government of Maldives implements various projects to
diversify the fish projects and get new markets. Ministry of
Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources is the government
authority concerning the implementation of projects and studying
the various impacts of new developments in this sector. During
1980s Fisheries Ministry started a project to anchor mooring
buoys in various parts of the country to attract tuna.
Fishermen's Day is also marked to emphasize the importance of
fishing to the Maldivian economy and the livelihood of
Maldivians.
The Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Ltd. is a government
owned company which carries out business in the field of
fishery. MIFCO buys fresh tuna from local fishermen. They have
collector vessels deployed in fishing atolls. It also owns a
fish-canning factory at Felivaru in Lhaviyani Atoll. MIFCO
operates a boatyard in Alifushi, where larger fishing vessels
are now built and sold to the people on hire purchase basis.
Fishery in the Maldives shows a promising future. The industry
needs modernization and new technology to keep pace with the
global economic development.
TOURISM
To Top
The spectacular beauty of these coral islands made the Maldives
one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world.
People had visited these islands to trade with the inhabitants
and by chance when their ships ran off course or were
shipwrecked in the shallow reefs of the Maldives. The sheer
natural beauty of the country and the warm hospitality of her
dwellers captivated almost all of them.
From a very humble beginning in the 1970s the tourism in the
Maldives has evolved and matured into an industry, which is a
key player of the domestic economy. Tourism in the Maldives
began in 1972 with 2 tourist resorts namely Kurumba Village and
Bandos Island Resort with a bed capacity of 280. By 1987 the
total number of resorts increased to 57, while their bed
capacity rose to 6203 beds.
After 29 years of sustainable growth in the industry the number
of resorts in 2000 stands at 87, having a total bed capacity of
more than 15,000 in resort islands. There were more than 2500
beds in other tourist accommodating facilities such as hotels,
guesthouses and safari vessels. Today tourism contributes over
19% to the country's GDP, generating more than 70% of foreign
exchange earnings and more than 40% of government revenues. The
number of in-bound tourists to the country increased
tremendously from 1097 tourist in
1972 to 395,725 in 1998.
Each resort is located on an island with self contained
facilities such as power plants, cold rooms, desalination
plants, sewage and waste disposal systems, staff quarters,
transport services and diving facilities etc. Each resort is
designed differently and every island is unique despite the
typical tropical environment of the Maldives. Guestrooms are
generally built in single story though very few resorts have two
story rooms. Most of them have thatched roofs and are built of
corals and bricks. |
