The newly elected president of the Maldives, Mohamed 'Anni' Nasheed, wants to end travel restrictions for foreign tourists. At present, they are only welcome on specific atolls and in the capital Malé.
The measure was brought into force to prevent the Islamic population being alienated from its own culture by too much contact with Westerners. However, says Mr Nasheed, in an ever-shrinking world such an attitude no longer makes sense. He also emphasized how important tourism is for the economy of the Maldives.
Tuesday's elections were the first democratic elections in the islands and ended former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's 30-year rule, under which there had been little political freedom. President-elect Mohamed Nasheed was himself a frequent political prisoner.
Source: www.radionetherlands.nl
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