A photo taken on December 28, 2011 shows a receptionist at the Paradise Island Resort and Spa's "Araamu" spa speaking to a customer over phone. HAVEERU PHOTO/ NASRULLA SOLIH
Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) has expressed concerns over the government's order to close down all the spas in the resorts.
In a statement issued yesterday, MATI Secretary General Mohamed 'Sim' Ibrahim said the decision would affect the tourists and bring financial losses to the industry.
Ibrahim, who is the husband of Tourism Minister Mariyam Zulfa, urged the government and opposition to work together to find a peaceful resolution to the issues.
Tourism Ministry issued a circular on Thursday ordering all the resorts in Maldives to shut down their spas claiming that a majority of Maldivians have accused the spas of being run as brothels.
"As specifying a certain distance from Male would not be a wise decision [in closing down spas] and that other resorts, which also cater for locals, are located close to inhabited islands, the government has decided to close down the spas in all the resorts on a fair basis and by giving a higher priority to the allegations made," the circular read.
Religious organisations and opposition parties gathered at the Tsunami Monument area on December 23 condemning the government's religious policies and making five demands to the government.
The demands include removing the SAARC monuments in Addu, condemning UN human rights chief Navi Pillay's comments about Islamic Sharia, not allowing Israeli airlines to operate flights, closing down the brothels in the country and a reversed decision on declaring areas of inhabited islands uninhabited in order to permit alcohol sales.
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