The Maldives Is No Longer Just for the Ultra-Rich

For decades, the Maldives symbolized ultra-luxury: private islands, over-water villas, and resort nights priced like fine jewelry.

But a major shift is reshaping the country’s tourism model. New regulations allow Maldivians to open guesthouses on inhabited islands, unlocking affordable stays, public transport access, and direct income for local families.

Today, more than 1,200 guesthouses operate across nearly 90 islands, offering simple beachfront rooms, home-cooked meals, reef adventures with local guides, and an authentic look at everyday life.

Travelers can now swap seaplanes for public speedboats costing a fraction of typical resort transfers, stay minutes from papaya farms, and snorkel alongside sea turtles.

Meanwhile, Maldivian-owned resorts are redefining “sustainable luxury” with coral planting, beach clean-ups, textile reuse programs, and aggressive moves to eliminate single-use plastics.

The government’s broader environmental push targets renewable energy, reef protection, and limiting waste tied to tourism.

For a destination once reserved for honeymoon budgets, families and younger travelers are now arriving with backpacks, not bellhops.