4. Welcome to the Sunny Side

A UNDP Situation Report was published in 1966, analysing the various bottlenecks to developing tourism in the Maldives. One of the key recommendations made by the expert team was that continued investment in the country’s infrastructure including airports, banking system and related capacity would pave the way for a thriving tourism industry. This advice was well-received by local industry pioneers, and their determination for success has since transformed the nation. In the late 1970s, to meet the demands of growing tourist arrivals, UNDP provided support to the Government in its efforts to upgrade the country’s main airport on Hulhulé Island, which was later inaugurated in 1981.