The unspoken truth of Maldives

Photographer

Vincent Roy Chau

Category

Editorial Photography - Travel

Company

Submission Group

Amateur

Year

2024

Country / Region:

Hong Kong SAR

The Maldives,known for its beaches and sunshine,has a stark contrast in its capital city of Malé.With the fourth highest density in the world,Malé offers a very different experience from the resort areas.Residents live in cramped conditions with poor sanitation,while the streets are polluted.Malé relies on diesel generators and discharges wastewater untreated,damaging the nearby coral reefs. There is no beach in Malé but only an artificial rocky shore.The contrast between Malé and the tourist areas is stark,with the residents leading modest lives despite the economic gains from tourism.