Destinations known | 50 years of tourism in the Maldives and, remarkably, it’s still the ‘ultimate island paradise’ early visitors found
- An early visitor found the Indian Ocean islands laid back and waxed lyrical about the low cost of living, happy and devout people, and lack of visa requirements
- Only when the Hilton arrived in 1997 did other international brands begin claiming islands for their own resorts, which continue to proliferate today
“Does it really exist?” asked Dirk Brink – a “well-known local money trader and inveterate traveller” – in the pages of the South China Morning Post in March 1976. “Is there really a country which belongs to the ‘Brotherhood of enemies’ (United Nations) which has all the qualifications of paradise?”
Brink had, a headline teased, “finally found the ultimate island paradise for the jaded jet-setter looking for a place to lie down”. And he was going to tell readers all about it.
This fantastical place was “A country where there is no income tax, no death duties, no exchange control, no visa requirements, no thieves, no murderers, no poverty, no contaminated water, no air pollution and practically no cars.
“A country populated by devoutly religious people, happy, content and smiling people.
“A country where anybody can afford to stay because the cost of living is very, very low and the simple way of life contributes to a long life.
“A country where the most expensive hotel charges US$15 (about HK$75) a day, which includes three square meals.
