The Dhivehi Qaumy Party (DQP) has criticised the government for jeopardising “the essential pillar of the Maldivian economy” after it claimed travel advisories to the country had been upgraded to ‘caution’ in several countries, including New Zealand and Canada, in the wake of recent political demonstrations.
“There was no doubt that any harm to the tourism industry, which is considered to be the government’s only real source of income, would have serious repercussions and cause pain and misery throughout society,” the party warned, in a statement.
“While the reality of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is slowly dawning on the international community, the travel warnings issued by Canada and New Zealand show the extent to which these countries are concerned,” it said, going on to accuse the government of “encouraging unrest, squabbling and violence”.
“This is undoubtedly what happens when power is in the hands of an individual without any intelligence or character,” it claimed.
Travel advisories in many developed countries are notoriously cautious. When Minivan News visited the New Zealand travel advisory site, SafeTravel, it found the entry had not been updated since October 7, 2008.
“Presidential elections are due to take place in October 2008,” the site noted. “Violent protests associated with the ongoing political reform process have occurred in Male and on some non-resort islands. New Zealanders are advised to avoid any demonstrations and political rallies as they have the potential to turn violent.”
The Canadian equivalent was last updated on November 25, 2009 and contains no official travel warnings, but instead urges travellers to ‘excercise a high degree of caution’, the second of four alert levels.
“Canadians should exercise caution and maintain a high level of personal security awareness at all times, as the security situation could deteriorate rapidly without notice,” the site notes.
The Australian government travel advisory website SmartTraveller also flags the Maldives at the second of its five warning levels, “Exercise Caution”.
“We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in the Republic of Maldives because of the risk of crime and civil unrest,” the site warns Australians, further recommending “you should avoid public gatherings and demonstrations as they may turn violent.”
The site similarly urges travellers to “Excerise Caution” in France, Sweden and Belgium.
Sim Mohamed Ibrahim from the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) observed that “in many countries it is a legal requirement for the government to inform citizens of anything that could be a danger.”
“There is political unrest in this country and sometimes demonstrations,” he said, explaining that it was very hard to explain to people hearing news reports about such things overseas that the incidents were restricted to Male’ and some inhabited islands “and not in tourist resorts.”
“The press is available to all over the world and if you read news about the Maldives a lot of stories about groups like the Adhaalath party, who are a political party but for all intents and purposes a religious party,” he said, explaining that the perception of rising extremism in the country risked becoming “the greatest problem facing the tourism industry in the future.”
“With the rhetoric in some newspapers and at public gatherings it appears to be on the rise, and it will be very easy for the Maldives to be branded alongside other countries [where fundamentalism is prevalent].”
“Certain elements of the extremist movement are in total opposition to parts of the tourism industry, such as the import of alcohol and pork for consumption by tourists. It has nothing to do with the Maldivian population, but still people are saying it should not be allowed.
“It is very sad because the vast majority of Maldivians are moderate, just like our fathers and grandfathers,” he said.
Vice President of the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Ibrahim Shareef meanwhile noted that “for the past 40 years the Maldives has been a peaceful country. But once we introduced a new political system in the name of democracy, there have been many political confrontations.”
Aggressive rhetoric from the President during an election was one thing, Shareef said, “but once elected he must be a symbol of unity.”
Travellers assessed risk carefully and were very cautious, he said, especially since the Maldives was an “expensive destination.”
“We have to put our house in order,” Shareef urged.
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Did you know Dr.Hassan Saeed is a power hungry man! Check out what he said to current president and his family during his double life in DRP! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPzAgaDm54g&feature=related
Dr.Hassan doesn't love the country..all he love is presidency!! This is what was told recently by one of his close friend in his party even now!! He said he repected this man..but now he understands that he doesn't want to solve or critize constructively on any matter...rather he likes to send the crazy Imad Solih..who is simply a Chemistry teacher who was expelled from Faculty of Education for copying during exam!
I really thought Hassan Saeed was more of a man than he has turned out to be. He is showing total disregard to common decency by calling Nasheed not intelligent. Is he saying Maldivians are complete fools by electing him as the president. Why did he support someone without any inteligence?
He has brought himself below Umar Naseer now by the look of things.
Making press statements without even checking details on the websites!!! The crazy thing is, he is so out of ideas you don't hear him say anything about all these hot arguments that goes on that are quite legitimate. Or perhaps he's not interested unless he thinks his statements has a vested interest for the tourism industry. I'm so glad this guys didn't end up being the president.
@ Gayoom - I agree that members of the DQP practice a dangerous form of politics. One hellbent on discrediting the current administration even if by the use of outright sabotage.
Case in point - Imad Solih, a man who became a politician only by his ability to dupe the credulous, recently engineered the expulsion of a good lecturer from a class in the local law school, supplanting her with a member from the DQP. This member paid no heed to lesson plans and merely wanted to politicize the barely educated youths who sadly attend the institutions of higher education in the Maldives.
Through trickery and deceit he destroyed the poor youngsters chance at developing an understanding of the subject of law for a whole semester. This is a waste in financial terms as well. Now they have hired a particularly foolish young lad called Moosa Anwar with promises of advancement and financial gain to lodge a case against the current President at the Supreme Court. I have serious doubts regarding the sanity of Moosa Anwar and I think this act by the DQP constitutes the abuse of the mentally ill. Such exploitation will only lead to harm for the Anwar as DQP will deny any involvement at the 11th hour.
I think very soon there will be different travel warnings - regarding the raise of extremism in the country.
That will be the beginning of the end of the tourism industry, and it will start with Male'-shopping to be cancelled!
Well, it goes to show that Maldivians can't solve anything at the table side.
Travel advisory is good. A country needs to protect their citizens. I don't think even Maldivians are safe in Maldives with the constant violence from thugs, political demonstration which are hardly peaceful.
Its interesting to note for those of us visit this web site and read the comments from mostly MDP sympathizers, how hard it is for them to accept any fact and failures of this government. Its obvious MDP and its allies abroad heavily campaign against Maldives tourism, and they ask people to boycott Maldives. Then their intention to get power by any cost. When they came to power, their intention, specially President Nasheed wants to be always on international media lime light, so he talks about environment and terrorism. Because thats one of the two issue, where you will get any attention.
May be we have issues of islamic fundamentalists, I dont accept we have any issue in our country that we cannot solve. It was very irresponsible of President Nasheed go and talk on international media and exploiting Maldives and drag us on to international conflicts like this.
i don't think Dr you are much intelligent either. Having a PhD, i would think you could contribute to this nation. real contributions im talking about, but you wanted to become a politician, president and shoot for the power!
But i agree this govt is failing by the hour to protect the nation from extremism. Tourism is indeed the one real source of income in this country and the worst threat is religious extremism...
Being the famous author of such brilliant books "Freedom of Religion, Apostasy and Islam" couldn't you contribute on this field to sooth the countries growing radical ideals? i'd love to see that Dr:)
Umar Naseer at least is foolish to say he is going to topple the government in x days and steal the presidency by jumping over whatever within x seconds!
But these scrupulous leaches are trying to dupe people!
Maldivians are no fools today to give presidency to weaklings and frail characters.
Our president should be an able man, capable man with strong will to do it especially when conditions are as difficult as this!
Valuable info. Lucky me I found your site by accident, I bookmarked it.
Travel warning for what. Simply cancel Male' Tours. There is no problem to arrive airport and take a transfer to a resort. Male' is safe as far as we know. Were there any cases of tourist being targeted. Is OZ or NZ safe for everyone. What happened to Indian students in Melbourne recently. Maldivian students were safe and we never announced travel advisories. Its life everywhere. Here its a struggle between druggies,
Stewie. Dr.Hassan was not the author of "FORAAII"
It was his brother Prof.Ab.Saeed's book. Hassan just wrote one chapter, if i am not mistaken.
Wow this is a great resource.. I’m enjoying it.. good article
Overseas travel advisories jeopardising tourism industry claims DQP Minivan NewsI completely agree with the above comment,5/25/2010
Overseas travel advisories jeopardising tourism industry claims DQP Minivan Newsbest post. I has been collection in my blog.6/8/2010