Terrorism and extremism: a threat to Maldives tourism industry

Abstract

Terrorism coupled with extremism is a global phenomenon, which the Maldives had avoided experiencing until 2007. Sustained and repeated terrorist campaigns can derail the country’s economy, which mainly depends on tourism and related industries.The review of literature and analysis of statistics establish that tourism industry is vulnerable and at the same time resilient. Incidents such as the Malé Sultan Park bomb blast and Himandhoo island mosque confrontation in the Maldives suggest that the society is losing its tolerant and moderate nature towards other cultures and ideas. These events imply a need to develop policy measures to counter the extremism in the country.For a determined extremist group the Maldives tourism industry is an easy target. It is possible to attack or take hostage tourists in a resort or onboard a cruise vessel. Such an incidence can create fear among tourists and damage the idyllic image associated with the Maldives brand. As terrorism and extremism have an international dimension, solutions can only be achieved through global cooperation. At local levels the ideology or thinking which leads to extremism should be countered and moderated.