Maldives tourism industry is headed towards celebrating its golden jubilee in 2022. While Maldives government has already initiated a splendid countdown event for the celebratory year – which is expected to involve year-long celebrations in varying degrees – the country's tourism industry has observed monumental growth through the near five decades.
In recent years the country's tourism industry had seen collective transformation in terms of the services, facilities and even the market segments, tourism concepts as well as the architectural aspects. While the country's strongest economic sector is entering into a new age, it will be interesting to take a walk across the memory lane to see just how much the designs of the buildings in tourist properties have changed over the years.
When the tourism industry came to fruition during the 1970s, the first-ever tourist resort of the island nation; Kurumba Maldives had thatch-roof villas. This was a period where cement-block bricks were used seldom and some of the resort buildings were developed using coral bricks and mortar. The roofs were created using palms thatched and "knitted" that were carefully placed atop the structures, ensuring there were no leakages into the structure come rainfall – plywood sheets were used as an additional roofing layer beneath the thatch.
Though initially thatch-roof villas were utilized out of 'necessity' as well as to preserve the traditional values of the Maldivian culture; the style and aesthetics were borrowed by other resort properties as well while incorporating their own signature styles into the villa structures.
The thatch-roof look of the Maldivian resorts has been a testament on perseverance; as it had lasted through five decades and will perhaps continue to do so in the coming years if not decades.
However, there is no denying that the contemporary architectural styles have slowly seeped into the tourism industry of the island nation with newer properties adopting more modern building aesthetics. One such example is the LUX* North Male' Atoll Resort & Villas that have completely omitted the traditional thatch-roof look when developing its villas and suites.
The buildings give a more contemporary feel and have been designed in a way that accentuates the chic and posh qualities of the resort's overall service standard. The architecture of the villas has taken a few lessons futuristic design concepts that are predominantly visible in Western and European countries. However, the designs still have incorporated Maldivian essence into it by the utilization of wood and other décor pieces in creating the villas.
Traditionally, most Maldivian resorts had either hut-shaped or small cubicle looking villas that were either single or double-room abodes. However, the more modern tourist establishments have varying classes of abodes including villas, suites as well as private houses and condos.
The evolution of the architecture in the Maldivian tourism industry is a testament to the growth and sustainability of the most major economic sector of the country, since it had refused to give in to the changing times by showing swift adaptability and integration of popular travel trends into the tourist properties. It is also an ample indicator on the dedication and commitment of the government of Maldives as well as other tourism affiliated bodies, towards preservation of the tourism industry.
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