Problem:
Environmental Perceptions The environmental dimension revealed mixed findings: • Positive Actions by Businesses: Many guesthouses and restaurants have adopted no-plastic policies (Summer Villa, Merijaan, Lagooona, Velana) and rely on WAMCO for waste management. Dive Maldives educates tourists not to touch corals or pollute the ocean during diving. • Past Challenges with Waste: Several participants (Velana, Sapphire, Lagooona) recalled that waste management was a serious issue in earlier years, especially during high season, when garbage overflowed into the ocean or beaches. While WAMCO has improved this, frustrations remain about inconsistent policies. • Concerns about Overdevelopment: Business owners noted that tall hotels damage the island's natural beauty (Merijaan, Dive Maldives). This suggests awareness of tourism's ecological footprint beyond just waste. Interpretation: While most interviewees felt that environmental management has improved (due to community action and WAMCO), the concern remains that rapid expansion and high tourist volumes could harm Maafushi's natural assets - the very basis of its tourism appeal. Need Assignment Help?