For a long time, the Republic of Maldives was one of the best-kept secrets in the world; a beautiful string of low-lying coral islands in the Indian Ocean, a paradise for scuba divers, watersports enthusiasts and sunseekers alike.

All of these attractions are still very much in evidence but, in recent years, the tourism potential of the country has been developed in the form of a large number of island resorts. Several tour operators have added the Maldives to their programmes, and since the introduction of direct flights from Europe, the islands have become an increasingly popular long-haul destination.

The Maldives consist of 26 natural atolls, approximately 1190 islands in all, most of them uninhabited. Most of the resorts are to be found in Mal (Kaafu) Atoll. A few are found in Vaavu, Baa and Lhaviyani. Alifu (Ari) Atoll has been declared the new Tourism Zone of the Maldives and work to upgrade and build new resorts is progressing in this area. All resorts offer night-fishing trips, superb snorkelling and windsurfing, and most have facilities for scuba diving, catamaran sailing, para-sailing, banana-boating, water-skiing and volleyball. Some offer other sporting facilities, including badminton and tennis.