New Maldives constitution is an added bonus
With its beautiful beaches and now a new constitution, the Maldives is sure to remain popular with British holidaymakers.
With its beautiful beaches and now a new constitution, the Maldives is sure to remain popular with British holidaymakers.
The Maldives has long been a popular holiday destination for Britons, but news has emerged today (August 7th) that it now has a new constitution.
After four years of debate in the Special Majlis (assembly), a separation of powers and a bill of rights will take place by October 10th.
The move represents a huge step forward for the nation, particularly seeing as the opponents of Mr Gayoom - who is Asia's longest-serving leader having held power since 1978 - describe him as a dictator.
The Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) has responded positively to the news, with Lord Malloch Brown saying: "We congratulate the Maldives on ratification of a new constitution. This is a significant milestone in the country's reform process.
"It will initiate the next important series of reforms, including the establishment of key institutions, leading to elections.
"The UK will continue to follow developments closely and remains committed to supporting the process."
Nevertheless, the FCO has plenty of advice for travellers looking to head to the Maldives, not least that there is no British diplomatic mission on the islands.
Furthermore, there is an underlying threat of indiscriminate terrorism, as shown by a small bomb exploding on the capital island of Male on September 29th, injuring two Britons in the process.
The potential for violence, particularly at demonstrations and large gatherings, is something else the FCO draws attention to in its guidelines - so travellers are urged to avoid these at all costs.
Comprehensive travel and insurance policies should also be in place before heading to the Maldives, with petty thefts and crime a problem plus the ever-present potential for swimming-related injuries.
In addition, British visitors are eligible to obtain a tourist visa for up to 30 days on arrival in the Maldives, provided you have a valid ticket for departure and enough money to cover trip expenses.
Travellers coming from yellow fever regions are advised to carry their international certificate of vaccination, while all visitors should seek medical advice before travelling to ensure vaccinations are up-to-date.
The FCO also points out that some mosquito-borne diseases are common, as shown by the December 2006 outbreak of Chikungunya and the February 2006 outbreak of Dengue fever.
Finally, travellers are also advised to take sensible precautions to avoid sunburn and dehydration in the Maldives' hot climate.
