Welcome to Maafushi
Maafushi is one of the first islands to introduce local tourism, as we see in the Maldives today. It offers an affordable way to spend a holiday in the Maldives, with convenient options for travelers. Maafushi is known for its wonderful and friendly inhabitants. The island offers a wide range of accommodations, including hotels, guesthouses, and home stays, as well as variety of restaurants and activities to cater to visitors from around the globe. It is conveniently located just 25 minutes away from Male International Airport, making it easy to travel to and from. There are daily ferries traveling between Maafushi and the airport, with frequent departures throughout the day.
Maafushi Island is a great destination for families or individuals looking to spend a vacation.
Geography
The island is 2.08 km (16 mi; 14 nmi).
Demography
According to the latest Census conducted in 2014, the total population of Maafushi is at 2,692 out of which 2,340 are Maldivians, and 352 foreigners. There has been a 17% increase in the residing population of the Island since the previous Census which was done in 2006. The population of Maafushi represents 13.84% of the total locality (Kaafu Atoll). This boom in population is mainly due to the guest house/hotel industry growth witnessed during the last 5 years.
Economy
Maafushi is one of the islands in Maldives with a thriving local economy. While more than sixty families benefit directly from fishing, tourism industry has taken a new turn since 2010. With the government regulation allowing opening of Guest Houses in local islands, Maafushi was the first to secure an investment in tourism accommodation. The first guest house was opened in January 2010, and since then, many more have opened and they have provided the local community with foreign currency inflows. Tourists from neighboring resort islands also visit Maafushi for island hopping and Maafushi provides them with shopping opportunity with souvenir shops at assigned areas of the island.
Tourism and guest houses
As of August 2016, there were more than 55 guest houses in Maafushi and it is the only local inhabited island with the greatest number of guest houses and guest beds in the country. The guest houses provide the island with direct employment, and many other indirect economic benefits to almost every family in the island. Most guest houses are funded by direct investments by local residents of the island. However, recently there have been investments by businessmen in Male' and elsewhere. Guest houses provide various excursions, including, snorkeling, fishing, water sports, and picnic island excursions. The main objective of allowing guest houses in local islands by the government in 2009 is to make economic growth more inclusive. As guest houses allow local residents to earn a living directly while residing in the island, it also makes tourism receipts more inclusive, and income distribution more even. Prior this policy, tourist establishments were allowed only on separate uninhabited islands, and they are mostly called "Resorts". Most these resorts are owned and operated by few businessmen in the country, and the rest are owned and operated by foreign companies. Hence, the true benefits of tourism were not penetrated to the local citizens of the country. This was evident by the most recent economic survey conducted by the Government, which revealed that over a period of 5 years, the income distribution of the country has become more uneven, although the country's GDP has expanded. Maafushi is just a 25-minute speed boat ride away from Male` International airport & only one and half hour Ferry ride.
Hotels
Maafushi offers a verity of accommodation options, including hotels, guesthouses, and home stays. Whether you're looking for affordable or luxury accommodation, with or without food and drinks, you can find it all here. The island has excellent hotels with swimming pools, spas, and their own restaurants, located close to the beach, on the beachfront, or inside the island.