The Maldives is an archipelagic nation with roughly 1,100 islands scattered in beautiful randomness, separated geographically by atolls. The majority of the country’s geographical landscape is covered with seas and oceans and thus, the country’s main “land” area is the ocean.
For centuries, Maldivian locals traditionally used boats built from coconut palm timber– which is referred to as ‘Dhoni’ in the local language. Through the years along with technological advancements, the boats that once traversed the open waters with the aid of sails have transitioned to utilize diesel or other fuel-powered engines.
The usage of ‘Dhonis’ is so significant in the island nation’s history that it is easily labeled as part of the country’s identity, and the importance of these vessels is such that they had been integrated into the country’s ever-expanding tourism industry for decades.
Over the decades, the country’s tourism industry which had started and stayed exclusively focused on enclave resort tourism has had observed exponential growth – with one of the most notable developments being the birth and subsequent growth of the safari vessels and liveaboards industry.
According to tourism statistics released regularly by the country’s state body mandated with monitoring tourism growth – the Ministry of Tourism – safaris and liveaboards in the country has exceeded beyond 150 operational vessels with a combined bed capacity of close to 3,000.
There is no denying that the Maldives has enjoyed a constant growth of its tourism industry, including the safari and liveaboards sector. However, what is often less talked about is the visible lack of nautilus tourism in the island nation. This is also the point where lines of confusion are drawn among tourism industry stakeholders and partners.
This is a tourism subgenre falling under maritime tourism and is often confused with Yachting Tourism as well. However, Nautical Tourism though inclusive of the Yachting Tourism component in its definition is not exclusively about yachting.
Nautical Tourism is also sometimes referred to as “Water Tourism” and is a tourism subgenre that involves the combination of sailing and boating with vacation and holiday excursions. The concept found its first industry segment definition in Europe and South America.
Meanwhile, a more scientific or research-backed definition was prescribed by Lukovic and Grzetic in 2007, which states “nautical tourism is a sum of poly-functional activities and relations that are caused by the tourists-boaters’ stay within or out of the ports of nautical tourism, and by the use of vessels or other objects related to the nautical and tourist activities, for the purpose of recreation, sports, entertainment or other needs.”
One major confusion related to Nautical Tourism is the supposed involvement of navigation in this type of tourism. However, tourism industry commentators have found this to be not a specific requirement for nautical tourism. This is due to scenarios that may involve tourists chartering boats without leaving the port but rather using the vessel while it is docked in the bay or harbor.
The shortest possible definition could be that nautical tourism is a poly-functional tourist activity that includes a strong maritime element.
The main activities under nautical tourism may include cruising and chartering while diving, surfing, rafting, rowing, fishing, adventures, and “Robinson” tourism being extensions of the tourism concept.
Nautical tourism is strongly connected to the sea and water-related activities, while they mostly take place under some type of local concession as well as the requirement of seafaring skills, either by the tourists or by vessel crew members.
Countries such as the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and the United States include growing nautical tourism segments that cater to several thousands of tourists annually. The common factor found in all of these countries is the availability of large bodies of water whether it is freshwater sources or even saltwater sources.
Based on the definition of nautical tourism, it can be argued that the Maldives already covers all the necessary elements required under the tourism segment. However, there appears to be a relative lack of marinas to berth these vessels with the exception of two notable locations – Hulhumale’ and CROSSROADS Maldives.
Meanwhile, the Maldives government has time and again stressed the importance of developing more marinas across the country that provide berthing accommodation for multiple vessels simultaneously.
Despite some notable areas that need improvement, the general idea is that the island nation does have a nautical tourism segment. However, another valid argument is that the said tourism segment is still not properly developed and has not matured in the island nation.
While the country’s tourism industry is widely marketed on international platforms, there is still a noticeable leaning towards enclave resort tourism comparatively stronger than the other tourism segments. Mostly because enclave resort properties are often more expensive with stronger hotelier groups attached to them whereas most of the other segments do not have such a vast portfolio of globally renowned businesses operating within them.
As for both the international and local brands that are focused on safaris and liveaboards segment, they do not get exposure equivalently as to that of the enclave resort properties in the country.
Perhaps this could be ideally one of the reasons why many international travelers are still wary or uninformed about the budding safaris and liveaboards segment in the country’s tourism.
As mentioned earlier, the island nation does indeed seem to operate partly on nautical tourism. The existence of safari vessels, liveaboards, and even marinas though they are still limited and not catering to most of the vessels operating in the country, all indicate that the elements of nautical tourism are present.
However, the segment, despite being operational for years is still not ripe enough and has several areas that require improvement.
For instance, safari vessels and liveaboards are majorly catered towards the middle to the upper echelon of tourists while the activities these vessels cater to are still restrained. Though chartering and cruising are possibilities, they are still a limited variety of tourism-related vessels operating in the country.
Understandably, one might confuse the difference between the varieties or types of vessels with quantity. There is no denying that a significant number of vessels operate in the country’s “nautical tourism” segment which can be further categorized into two basic types; cruise safaris and liveaboards.
There is still an apparent absence of yacht-type or class vessels while the industry mainly caters towards more rest and recreation or relaxation than sporting or adventurous elements. This is also visible from the relative lack of sporting yachts or catamaran class vessels operating in the industry.
It is imperative that the industry, along with the support of existing and relevant associations and the state government itself, continue to expand and accommodate the elements that are still lacking despite the lengthy duration of the segment’s existence.
There is no harm in continuing marketing efforts to maintain the momentum between the more affluent tourist markets that attract nautical tourism. However, there is also no risk in assessing the potential benefits of expanding marketing to include middle and working-class tourists as well as sporting enthusiasts and professional yachtsmen and women.
Maybe, the country needs such a push that might prove economically and even financially beneficial as such a policy-level move may work towards expanding the existing market segments as well as venturing into newer areas.
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