马尔代夫是南亚印度洋上的群岛国家，座落在印度洋南端西南方向300公里、斯里兰卡以西450公里处；由北向南经过赤道纵列，形成了一条长长的礁岛群地带。1190个美丽的珊瑚礁岛屿似花瓣似的散落或环绕在宽广、碧蓝的印度洋海面上似一幅美丽的画卷。如果把马尔代夫形容为美丽的热带天堂是一点也不为过的
马尔代夫独特的南洋风情观光资源，明媚的阳光、清澈的海水和白色的沙滩以及岛屿所衍生的诱惑力，吸引着来自世界各地的游客；使之成为趋之若鹜的旅游度假胜地。
建造在岛屿上的度假村和酒店都非常别致，凡是来过这里的游客由衷地赞叹“马尔代夫是地球上最后一个天堂”。由于马尔代夫有大量的珊瑚礁和丰富的海底世界，所以它还是一个潜水的圣地。美丽的自然风光和丰富多彩的岛屿生活使马尔代夫成为新婚伉俪们度蜜月的首选之地，浪漫并不是年轻人的专利，在这里还可以看见一对对老年伴侣在这里追寻和重温年轻时曾经历过的甜蜜时光。
观光旅游业是马尔代夫国民经济的主要支柱之一。国家观光旅游业的总体规划分为水下活动项目境和岛上观光游览和探险。由于当地的资源缺乏，很多游客需要的东西基本上都依靠进口，如从家具到新鲜的蔬菜等等。马尔代夫旅游业发展的策略是，选择一些无人居住的小岛，凭借岛上的原始自然风光，建造一家家高档次的度假村。在岛上没有马路和机动车、没有犯罪和商业气氛和远离俗世的烦杂，提供给游客一个真正的度假休闲的天堂。
气候:
通常马尔代夫一年之中可分为两个季节：从每年的12到3月份为旱季，从4-11月份为相对潮湿和多雨季节。在这个季节里经常下雨，也有暴风雨和偶见强台风光顾。全年日间的气温大约在28摄氏度左右(82°F)，旱季的时候很干爽，海风吹来感到很惬意，也不像雨季那样潮湿。
The Maldivian archipelago located 300 miles southwest of the southern tip of India and 450 miles west of Sri Lanka is a beautiful string of 1,1 90 low-lying coral islands scattered across the equator in the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, giving a rare glimpse of what is aptly described as a tropical paradise.
These are just the three simple realities beckoning tourists from far and wide to these islands, sun, sea and sand which add up to being a heavenly getaway from the rest of the world and its worries.
Resorts and hotels woo tourists with promises of, 'the last paradise on earth', and they will not disappoint. It is a major destination for scuba divers, who come for the wealth of marine life and the reefs as well as being popular with honeymooners and older couples seeking to rejuvenate their lives.
Tourism in the Maldives is carefully managed. The country's tourism master plan identifies both the underwater environment and 'the intrepid explorer factor' as major attractions. The lack of local resources makes it necessary to import virtually everything a visitor needs, from furniture to fresh vegetables. The strategy has been to develop a limited number of quality resorts, each on its own uninhabited island, free from traffic, crime and commercialism.
Climate
genericly, the year is divided into two monsoon periods: the north-east monsoon or Ruvai lasts from December to March, which are the drier months; the south-west monsoon or Ulhangu lasts from April to November, and is wetter, with more storms and occasional strong winds. Daytime temperatures are about 28°C (82°F) all year. The humidity is slightly lower in the dry season but most days there's a cooling sea breeze.
