Tourism

After a thorough survey on World Wide Web using a different search engines such as google.com, ask.com, askjeeeves.com, mns.com, yahoo.com and scholar.com for the websites that contain references to ecotourism in the Maldives.  The results differed in all the search engines that I considered, the most commonly used and popular search engine had almost similar referencing content.  I noted the following similarities in googles.com, aks.com, askjeeves.com and yahoo.com.  There are links to information concerning the Maldives as a state, the best eco hotels, eco lodges and resorts, numbers of Island in Maldives, climate, map of Maldives and information highlighting presidential award, Ecotourism initiatives and how the communities are benefiting from ecotourism.

Differences in results
Some of the website did not have some of related information Searches such as Maldives Resorts, where is Maldives located, directions to the Islands in Maldives, climate in male Maldives, tourism information, and many others.  From the survey, I have come to a conclusion that ask.com search engine has the best link to the Tourism information.  Therefore, I would recommend ask.com as the best search engine that can give the best hits.  The following are the reasons that have convinced me that ask.com is the best search engine namely on the first hit it gives more information about ecotourism in Maldives and statements made by Minister of Tourism from Maldives government.  It also displays many related information regarding Maldives - its location of Islands, map of the country, community behind ecotourism and how there are benefiting.

Most interesting information about ecotourism in Maldives.

 Maldives is not only famous but also known for its natural beauty which attract many visitors these includes the blue ocean and white beaches, which have fresh air and pleasant temperatures. Maldives has the best climate ideal for tourists to engage in water sports such as fishing, scuba diving, swimming, snorkeling, water-skiing, windsurfing to mention but a few.  Due to its amazing fresh water and underwater scenery, ranking has placed Maldives among the best recreational diving destinations world wide.                                                                                        
Maldives has man made reef balls structures comprising of a unique and marine friendly.  Concrete and are designed to mimic natural reef systems and to facilitate the growth of corals in areas where the reef has been damaged.  

In November 2001, a team from The Reef Ball Foundation launched Kuda Huraas program and instructed the resort team on constructing and deploying a reef ball. Over 250,000 reef balls have been deployed in over 3,500 projects worldwide making reef balls the most widely used designed artificial reef in the world. Reef balls are used primarily to restore ailing coral reefs and to create new sites for scuba diving. (The International Ecotourism Society, 1990)

Seasons Resort Maldives is an exquisite gem of an island in the North Male Atoll, just a 25-minute boat ride from the airport at Male. The Resort offers wonderful diving and sailing in the spectacular coral gardens and reef-protected lagoon waters which encircle it.  Located on the Maldivian archipelago, one of the worlds richest marine ecosystems with a spectacular array of fish, dolphins, turtles and rays.  In Maldives there is a project features an innovative technique called coral propagation. This process is similar to the techniques used on plants and ensures a ten times faster growth rate of the coral. (www.ecotourism.org)  
In Maldives the most promoted ecotourism featuresactivities are diving, shallow lagoons for safe water sports, clean white sandy beaches for sunbathing and relaxation and swimming. Completely nature-based, tourism in Maldives has a unique products concept in its development. Its only in Maldives where island hosts at most one resort hotel, which is self-sufficient unit that generates its own power, water supply, and manages its sewage and solid waste. In the Maldives there is a clear understanding that the remarkable natural, social, and cultural features require a unique small island tourism policy that will sustain the important economic industry, coral island environments, and preserve the traditional patterns of life in the islands.

Ecotourism is Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. (TIES, 1990).

 Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. This means that those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following ecotourism principles (TIES, www.ecotourism.org, 1990).  Originally, ecotourism was defined as purely nature based, forgetting the impact tourism had on the local villages and culture. (www.eco-resorts.com)

However, it quickly became apparently difficult to create a new type of ecotourism, which will only focus on wildlife and the environment, while excluding the local villagers it never worked.  In Maldives there is real ecotourism since the communities are involved, and the government has also developed mechanisms to encourage investors and local community to ensure that the resort islands are build with a local touch in their designs and architecture, which has greatly assisted to successfully restore culture, local crafts, design, and tradition.  In Maldives ecotourism is not just a small market niche but a full exported sector that the government is trying through the ministry of tourism to promote, as well as ensuring that environment is not changed or interfered with.  Ecotourism in this region has done very well and everyone who calls himself or herself a tourist should pay a visit to the place.