It Started with An Italian Travel Enthusiast George Corbin – Tourism Pioneer

In the 1970s, the Italian travel enthusiast George Corbin was looking to visit South Asian countries to discover new places to explore.

The Beauty of the Maldives Spread Through Afterward

When they returned from their trip, Mr. Corbin published articles on his adventure, and described his first visit to the Maldives as «breathtaking». «I could feel the potential that these beautiful islands could offer the tourists,» he said. With him were 22 tourists, and they had the grand time of their lives with their stay in the capital Malé.

The Beauty of the Maldives Spread Through Afterwards

While it was a rocky start with their first meal in the country , the hosts were quick to do anything they felt would help the guests’ stay feel like a true vacation, which included underwater activities and daily visits to local and uninhabited islands.

Spear Fishing, Then the Banning Of

The first German group who visited Kurumba objected to it, which led to the banning. The government also later realized that spearfishing was a threat to the sea life that the Maldives boasted, and was therefore banned in all Maldivian waters. In 1972, the Crescent Tourist Agency was established and was a private company. This agency undertook the construction of the Bandos island resort in the same year.

Afterward, they developed resorts on Furanafushi , Farukolhufushi , Vilingili and Baros Island. In 1974, they developed Velassaru and had 90 beds. During the same period, Farukolhufushi was leased to Club nature and became the first foreign company-managed resort in the Maldives. The other resorts were later leased to different parties before the company’s dissolution in 1978.

The early stage of tourism in the Maldives was marked by «free-for-all». There were no passport requirements in the airport, travelers could go anywhere as long as they can sort out the transportation themselves, and they can reside anywhere they wish. The Maldives has really come a long way from their humble beginnings in the 1970s, and with its still-growing popularity in the tourism industry, the country will only get better and better at it.