. After the Tsunami: Rapid Environmental Assessment. NATIONAL RAPID ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT - THE MALDIVES The tsunami had disastrous effects on the tourism sector. Three foreign tourists died, and 19 of the country's 87 resorts sustained damages and are closed. Rebuilding the resorts will cost an estimated $100 million. Business losses are estimated at $250 million. Tourist arrivals have declined markedly. Typically, in January and February, high season, bed occupancies are at 90 per cent. The bed occupancy rate, however, has declined by between 20 and 30 per cent, and approximately 5,000 of
. After the Tsunami: Rapid Environmental Assessment. NATIONAL RAPID ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT - THE MALDIVES The tsunami had disastrous effects on the tourism sector. Three foreign tourists died, and 19 of the country's 87 resorts sustained damages and are closed. Rebuilding the resorts will cost an estimated $100 million. Business losses are estimated at $250 million. Tourist arrivals have declined markedly. Typically, in January and February, high season, bed occupancies are at 90 per cent. The bed occupancy rate, however, has declined by between 20 and 30 per cent, and approximately 5,000 of the country's 17,000 hotel beds are not in use. Of that number, 1,200 hotel beds have sustained serious damage and will remain closed for 2005. Scheduled and charter flights have been reduced and many resorts have reduced their staff sizes. In the interest of regaining previous tourist arrival rates and restoring damaged resort capacities, the Ministry of Tourism has been providing situation updates to travel and trade partners and diplomatic missions. The Ministry has also formulated a post-tsunami marketing campaign, relaxed resort leases rents for a 3-month period and provided technical assistance to the tourism industry regarding insurance > ^ Guraidoo Island, Maldives (16 January 2005). Fisherman clean their catch on the beach on Guraidoo Island in the Maldives. Maldivians who lost their homes have started rebuilding their villages and have gone back to fishing. The Government of the Maldives estimates that infrastructure damage to the fishehes sector is valued at $25 million. © Ed Wray/Associated Press Fisheries Sector In 2004, the fisheries sector contributed per cent of the country's GDP. The sector is is a key component of rural livelihoods and income, and is commercially very significant, consisting of subsistence-based pole and line fisheries as well as commercial fisheries and small processing units. The GOM estimates that infrastructure damage to
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