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| September 21, 2012 | Growing Islamisation could lead to ban on spas, alcohol in 'tourism hub' Maldives | | London: The growing influence of Islamic hardliners can have an
adverse impact on the future of tourism in the Maldives, the country's former president Mohamed Nasheed has said. Nasheed, Maldives' first democratically elected
leader, who was ousted in a 'coup' on February 7, said Islamisation could even
lead to the banning of spas, same-sex beaches and alcohol from holiday resorts
in the Maldives. "I think that is the direction we are going. They are talking
about alcohol-free resorts, about getting non-drinking tourists to come in from
Iran ," Nasheed said in an interview with Telegraph Travel. "I can easily imagine
holidaymakers being prosecuted for kissing in public, as in some Muslim countries,"
he added. Nasheed said that 'if the country is being radicalised every day, then
the staff in the resorts, and their families, are being radicalised also.' "That
must have some impact on the resorts in the medium and long term," he added. Maldives,
a popular destination for honeymooners, is generally considered to be more tolerant
than other Muslim countries, but recent evidence appears to suggest otherwise,
the paper said. Maldives' Islamic Affairs ministry recently tried to impose a
ban on dancing in public between men and women. But the government rejected the
ban, and pledged that the honeymoon hotspot would remain a beacon of tolerance. | |
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