While Sri Lanka is benefitting from a rising tide of tourism, the Maldives (www.visitmaldives.com), an archipelago nation of nearly 1,200 tiny islands scattered 642 miles to its southwest in the Arabian sea, has been sounding the alarm about literal rising tides.
The award-winning 2011 documentary, The Island President, is a compelling, well-worth-watching account of the efforts of Maldives’ then-president Mohamed Nasheed to help generate international awareness and action around climate change.
As one of the world’s lowest-altitude countries, with an average height of less than five feet above sea level, the gay Maldives would be one of the first nations in the world to be completely submerged if the oceans continue to rise with global warming.
Some calculations, which don’t necessarily take into account coral growth and the degrees to which islands can rise with sea level, not strictly be overtaken, suggest that this holiday paradise could become a real-life Atlantis in less than 50 years. But the film’s hook is really more a conceptual stroke of genius than an imminent death knell.
By Jim Gladstone – Full Story at Passport
For three months I had been filled with pure excitement because my trip to the Maldives was finally booked. I spent hours on the internet looking at the wondrous beaches, fantastic hotels, and the pure idyllic paradise setting that made up the islands of the Maldives. Each island was more beautiful than the next but each had one thing in common. Each one was paradise. But each one was also anti-gay.
The Maldives is governed by Sharia Law which criminalises same-sex sexual acts between both men and women. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association states that for men ‘the punishment is banishment for nine months to one year or a whipping of 10 to 30 strokes, while the punishment for women is house arrest for nine months to one year.’
I immediately felt the moral dilemma as an LGBTI traveler. Did I want to go to a country where it was illegal to be gay? Would I even feel safe there? Is it wrong to spend my money in a country where I’m not even welcomed?
Dream vacation,” “trip of a lifetime,” “bucket-list destination”: these are the most common (and certainly apt) associations when one thinks of the Maldives. In fact, chances are high that the screensaver on your computer is an image of this unrivaled, awe-inspiring paradise. The group of 1,200 islands (200 inhabited) just six degrees north of the equator in the Indian Ocean is unarguably one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Thanks to its remote location, the waters are transparent, the skies are clear, the hot-white sand is untainted, and the sunsets are stunning. The upscale island resorts that make a jaunt worthwhile are destinations unto themselves, rooted in place with thoughtful amenities, tireless service, and impeccable design. Simply put, the Maldives is extraordinary.
That said, it’s not the easiest place to get to (approximately 18-20 hours from New York City), but that’s part of the exotic charm. The islands only receive about 800,000 travelers a year (ten percent are Americans), so it’s pleasantly uncrowded.
Minding the far-flung location, a trip here comes with a hefty price tag. Supplies are expensive to ship here, resulting in steep prices for meals, spirits, and other necessities. Rates for a standard room can start at $1,500 a night during high season, but it may be the most memorable standard room you’ll have ever stayed in. It’s no surprise a one-week trip can cost upwards of $10,000, and the types of visitors here (celebrities, wealthy families, affluent honeymooners) don’t bat an eye at their final bill. The Maldives continue to grow as a destination, and some gay couples are also choosing to come here to enjoy the incredible natural beauty and luxurious resorts.