Discover Maldives' humble beginnings

When the first holidaymakers came to the Maldives in 1972, they lived in simple huts made of corals and palm fronds. — Kurumba Maldives/dpa

Palm-fringed sandy beaches, shimmering turquoise lagoons, colourful coral reefs, eternal summer – for many, the Maldives are the dream holiday destination.

Fifty years after tourists first began to arrive the island state in the Indian Ocean expects a record number of 1.6 million guests in 2022 – Maldives tourism is booming.