The Maldives is a tiny island in the Indian Ocean that depends on imports to sustain its successful luxury tourism sector. This photo shows the artificial beach created in the Maldivian capital, Male, which opened in May 1998. Even though the atoll nation of 1,192 tiny coral islands is fabled for its beautiful beaches, the country's capital island had no natural seashore until an artificial beach was built at the cost of 10-million dollars. All pics/AFP

This photo shows an aerial view of one of the many luxurious resorts that dot the many islands that comprise the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.The Maldives is one of the world's most exclusive holiday destinations but it has quietly opened up to backpackers in the last few years with a reform that has upset religious hardliners

This photo shows an aerial view of one of the many luxurious resorts that dot the many islands that comprise the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.The Maldives is one of the world's most exclusive holiday destinations but it has quietly opened up to backpackers in the last few years with a reform that has upset religious hardliners

Foreign tourists walk along a beach of the Paradise Island Resort and Spa in the North Male' Atoll

Foreign tourists walk along a beach of the Paradise Island Resort and Spa in the North Male' Atoll

This picture shows foreign tourists walking along a sun-kissed beach of the Paradise Island Resort and Spa in the North Male' Atoll

This picture shows foreign tourists walking along a sun-kissed beach of the Paradise Island Resort and Spa in the North Male' Atoll

A foreign tourist walks along a beach on the island of Kurumba. Traditionally, a high-end destination even by the standards of luxury hospitality, Maldives' secluded resort islands cannot escape the international meltdown, the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) says

A foreign tourist walks along a beach on the island of Kurumba. Traditionally, a high-end destination even by the standards of luxury hospitality, Maldives' secluded resort islands cannot escape the international meltdown, the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) says

This picture taken on 17 August 2007 shows the wooden entrance leading to the Coco Palm resort on the Boduhithi Island, Maldives. Home to an estimated 300,000 Sunni Muslims, the Islamic Republic of the Maldives has relaxed rules in the resorts where alcohol is served, unlike in the capital island where it is prohibited

This picture taken on 17 August 2007 shows the wooden entrance leading to the Coco Palm resort on the Boduhithi Island, Maldives. Home to an estimated 300,000 Sunni Muslims, the Islamic Republic of the Maldives has relaxed rules in the resorts where alcohol is served, unlike in the capital island where it is prohibited

In this photograph taken on November 12, 2007, Kurumba island basks in the sunshine in the Maldives

In this photograph taken on November 12, 2007, Kurumba island basks in the sunshine in the Maldives

Moored boats are seen from the jetty on the island of Male, capital of the Maldives, on July 31, 2016.

Moored boats are seen from the jetty on the island of Male, capital of the Maldives, on July 31, 2016.

A plane lands at Male International Airport while a sailboat makes its way through a blue lagoon. Offering secluded beaches and every amenity a tourist could desire, Maldives has pioneered a high-end tourism of self-contained resorts out of sight to all who are not making money off them

This picture that was taken in the Maldivian capital island, Male, shows Maldivians riding past the Presidential jetty. The Maldives has built South Asia's most successful economy based on luxury tourism

A tourist walks along the Paradise Island Resort's main beach on the Kaafu atoll, some 20 kilometres north of Male. Offering secluded beaches and every amenity a tourist could desire, Maldives has pioneered a high-end tourism of self-contained resorts out of sight to all who are not making money off them

In this photograph taken on October 17, 2003, a Maldivian villager is seen washing a cooking pot in the blue lagoon waters of Huraa Island, some 20 kilometres north of Male