Once synonymous with secluded luxury, private islands and eye-watering price tags, the Maldives is undergoing a quiet but significant transformation as it redefines who gets to experience its turquoise waters and white-sand beaches. Long perceived as an exclusive playground for the ultra-wealthy, the island nation is increasingly embracing a more inclusive, community-driven and environmentally conscious model of tourism that is reshaping both visitor experiences and local livelihoods.
A recent visit to Thoddoo, an inhabited island in the North Ari Atoll, offered a glimpse into this evolving landscape. The arrival was marked not by the roar of seaplanes or uniformed staff ferrying designer luggage, but by the gentle hum of motorbikes and families stepping off public ferries with backpacks in tow. Compared with a visit more than a decade ago, when tourism was largely restricted to uninhabited resort islands, the change was striking. The Maldives felt less like a carefully curated fantasy and more like a living, breathing country opening itself to the world.
This shift has been driven largely by policy reforms over the past decade that allowed Maldivians to operate guesthouses on inhabited islands, dismantling long-standing restrictions that kept tourism confined to isolated resorts. According to the Ministry of Tourism, more than 1,200 guesthouses are now spread across 90 local islands, enabling travellers to engage with everyday island life while allowing residents to benefit directly from the industry that underpins the national economy.
Thoddoo, often referred to as the Maldives’ “farm island”, reflects this new approach. Reached by an affordable public speedboat from Malé, the island offers a slower pace of life, with sandy lanes, bicycles instead of cars, and agricultural fields growing papaya and watermelon just steps from the shoreline. Accommodation at locally run guesthouses is modest but welcoming, with home-cooked meals featuring freshly caught fish and produce grown on the island itself. For visitors, the appeal lies in authenticity and connection; for residents, it represents economic empowerment and a renewed sense of stewardship over their natural environment.
Local tourism advocates say this model has encouraged greater awareness of conservation among communities, as livelihoods are now closely tied to the health of reefs, beaches and marine life. Snorkelling trips with residents, encounters with sea turtles and visits to small farms have become part of the experience, while designated “bikini beaches” balance cultural norms with visitor expectations in the Muslim-majority nation.
Alongside this growth in local-island tourism, the Maldives’ resort sector is also adapting. Mid-range, Maldivian-owned resorts are increasingly positioning themselves as accessible yet responsible alternatives to ultra-luxury properties. At family-oriented resorts in the South Malé Atoll, all-inclusive models are being reimagined to offer convenience without excess, with bundled activities, reef access and multiple dining options aimed at a broader range of travellers.
Sustainability has become central to this new vision. Resorts are rolling out initiatives such as coral restoration, beach clean-ups, waste reduction programmes and the elimination of single-use plastics. These efforts align with broader national policies that link tourism development with environmental protection. The government has introduced regulations to curb plastic use, conserve energy and protect marine ecosystems, recognising that climate change and ecological degradation pose an existential threat to the low-lying nation.
Under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, the Maldives has also committed to generating 33% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2028, an ambitious target intended to reduce carbon emissions and preserve the fragile environments that attract millions of visitors each year.
Together, these changes point to a country recalibrating its tourism identity. By opening its inhabited islands to visitors and embedding sustainability into both policy and practice, the Maldives is moving beyond its image as an exclusive retreat for the wealthy, offering a more grounded, inclusive version of paradise that benefits travellers and locals alike.
