Cultural tourism has the potential to be developed in Maldives to provide socioeconomic benefits. Currently, culture is not a major part of mainstream tourism, which is focused on relaxation. Cultural activities shown to tourists are usually limited to performances by local groups. Developing cultural tourism could help revive local culture, diversify the tourism product for sustainability, manage heritage sites, and generate indirect economic benefits. However, challenges around funding, technical skills, and management need to be addressed for successful cultural tourism development in Maldives.

1. Development of Cultural Tourism in Maldives 11th May 2009 // Muhyiddin School

2. Introduction In tourism, Culture is identified to be one of the motivation factors for the tourists or a key attraction to visit a destination. Where culture or cultural activities are found to be a motivator for visitation of tourists to be a destination, destination plan, develop and market or promote cultural tourism to maximize economic and other benefits from their cultural resources.

3. What is Culture? The word “Culture” is usually associated with the subject of anthropology and has many significations to many people. Culture refers to the perspectives, practices and products of a social group. Consists of four elements which a passed on from generation to generation by learning alone. These are the values, norms, institutions and artifacts.

4. What is Tourism? Tourism is identified as the business of providing tours and services for people travelling for pleasure or recreation. The world tourism organization defines tourists as people who travel to an stay in places outside their usual environment for more than twenty-four hours for leisure.

5. Cultural Tourism Cultural tourism is based on local and regional culture resources. World Tourism organization defines cultural tourism as the movements of people for essentially cultural motivations which includes, study tours, performing arts, cultural tours, travel to festivals, visits to historical sites and monuments.

6. Maldives Tourism Development Tourism was introduced to Maldives in the early 70’s. From the tourist surveys conducted by the Ministry of Tourism, It is established that over 60% of tourists visit Maldives for relaxation.

7. Cultural Tourism in Maldives Cultural Tourism is not a significant component of the main stream tourism in Maldives. Introductions with the island community and tourists are limited to day visits conducted by safari boats and tourists resort excursions. Culture is stage by the tourist resorts through cultural performances by local bands singing local Dhivehi songs, and traditional dance performances made by the staff or local community performing Boduberu, Dhandi or Bandiyaa.

8. Why should we develop Cultural Tourism in Maldives? Reasons for developing cultural tourism include: Reviving tradition and culture of the host community. Diversifying the tourism product for the sustainable development of tourism. Management of cultural monuments and heritage sites. Generating indirect benefits of tourism to a wider population.

9. Conclusion Cultural tourism is an important segment of tourism which has the potential for enhancing and development in the Maldives. A planned and careful development of the cultural tourism is required to provide socioeconomic benefits and at the same time to minimize any negative impacts. There are challenges which include financial, technical and other management issues to be addressed in the development for cultural tourism.

10. Thank you Mord & Haris Mohamed (10A) & Haris (10B)