The government of Maldives has decided to launch an investigation into the removal of tourists from Alifu Dhaalu atoll's Dhigurah island.
The tourists were being sent out of the island for allegedly not paying a fee set by the island council. These fees are imposed on tourists who wait on the island in areas other than the harbour and for those who use the island's 'thundi' beach - the biggest one in the Maldives.
Having garnered global attention, the beach is visited by a large number of tourists daily, including those staying in nearby resorts and guesthouses of other islands.
Since the council started imposing its fee, tourists who visit the island without paying fees have been notified to leave. A video also surfaced on social media showing the island council's president Ibrahim Usman demanding tourists who had not paid the fee to leave.
Several people from the tourism industry reacted to this video with concern, and said they believe this could tarnish the country's reputation for being a welcoming and hospitable country.
In response, Local Government Minister Adam Shareef, in a post on X, said that the scenes from Dhigurah are regrettable and that an investigation would be carried out to understand the circumstances surrounding it.
“Although we continue to respect the standards of society in local islands, our islands must welcome tourists properly,” he said.
The minister said he would work closely with all stakeholders to maintain the standards of society and expand the tourism industry.