Thirty Huts That Built a Nation's Future.
Coral blocks, palm-leaf roofs and brackish-water showers — the humble beginning of the world's most coveted island holiday.
Kurumba Village opens as the Maldives' very first tourist resort. Italian travel agent George Corbin and local entrepreneurs — Ahmed Naseem, M.U. Maniku and Hussain Afeef — hand-build thirty simple beach huts with coral, palm leaves and brackish water showers. It is the quiet beginning of a global luxury brand.
An Italian on a cargo ship.
In 1971 an Italian travel agent, George Corbin, arrived in Malé on a cargo ship with a photographer named Benini, hunting untouched tropical destinations. Three Maldivian entrepreneurs — Ahmed Naseem, M.U. Maniku and Hussain Afeef, who would dominate the industry for half a century — met him there.
Sixty beds on Vihamanaafushi.
Together they built the country's first resort on Vihamanaafushi. On 3 October 1972, Kurumba Village opened with sixty beds, brackish-water showers, barbecues on the beach, and bungalows of coral block and uneven palm leaf. It was immediately fully booked.
From thirty huts to 180 islands.
Kurumba was the match. By the end of the 1970s, seventeen resorts offered 1,300 beds; today the count is past 180. The entire Maldivian economy — and most of its foreign exchange — rests on what began with thirty huts on a single island.
It was breathtaking. I could feel the potential these beautiful islands could offer to tourists.
The long arc.
- 1971
The scout
George Corbin arrives looking for a tropical destination to sell to his clients.
- 3 Oct 1972
Kurumba opens
The Maldives' first resort opens on Vihamanaafushi — and sells out immediately.
- 1979
Seventeen resorts
By the decade's end, 17 resorts offer a total of 1,300 beds.
- Today
180+ islands
Tourism is the backbone of the economy, one private island at a time.
Continue the timeline.
- George Corbin, interview, SunOnline International (en.sun.mv)
- Kurumba Maldives — Our Story (kurumba.com)
- Wikipedia — Tourism in the Maldives
It started with thirty huts. Today there are more than 180 private islands.
The resort era began on Vihamanaafushi in 1972. We've spent two decades since getting to know every island that followed — and we'll help you choose the right one.