Kurumba – The Beginning
The opening of Kurumba in 1972 marked the start of the tourism industry that has brought prosperity and progress to the Maldives. The islands then were virtually unknown to the outside world, inhabited by fisherfolk and with no foreign investment. There was only a small airstrip on Hulhule Island (the present international airport) that had been built by volunteers, and no regular flights. Mohamed Umar Maniku, the Chairman of Universal Enterprises, the owning company behind Kurumba, has recalled: “We had nothing in the Maldives then, nothing. No Banks, no airport, no telephones only ham radio or Morse code contact with Colombo. Even the UNDP experts said that tourism would never succeed because there were no facilities, no infrastructure."

Tourism began not only because the right people were in the right place at the right time but also because the young Maldivians who were involved had the initiative and the enthusiasm to make it work. It began with a chance meeting by an Italian travel agent, George Corbin, in Colombo with Ahmed Naseem, then a junior with the Maldives Embassy who went on to become the Foreign Minister of the Maldives. Corbin was looking for undiscovered “virgin” islands where he could bring Italians to swim and hunt fish. He visited Male’ with Naseem by cargo ship in 1971 and resolved to return.

He brought the first group of tourists, mainly journalists and photographers, in February 1972 and they stayed in three houses in Male’ looked after by M U Maniku and his friends, including Hussain Afeef who is also now the successful owner/operator of several resorts. The visitors were captivated by the Maldives and found it perfect for swimming, sunbathing and fishing. Corbin promised to bring more tourists if Maniku, Naseem and Afeef could find somewhere for them to stay.

Kurumba – The Original
Inspired by their enthusiasm, Maniku and Afeef linked up with the leaseholder of Vihamanafushi, then an uninhabited island coconut plantation. The island was chosen because of its proximity to the airstrip and the capital. Access was either by sailing dhoni or open boat with an outboard motor. There was no jetty (although one was later built using coconut trunks as pillars) so guests had to wade through the surf to the beach.

Although he was a civil servant, an agriculture officer, M U Maniku spent his spare time when work finished at 1.30pm every day, developing Vihamanafushi. With financial help from Corbin and from his own resources, Maniku and his young Maldivian friends managed to build 30 rooms in blocks of three, using coral stone walls, coconut timber, and palm thatch for the roof. Each room had a brackish water shower and toilet, basic furniture, and access to the beach. Meals were taken in a canteen or as barbecues on the beach.

They called the resort Kurumba Village, after the Dhivehi word for coconut, Kurumba. Afeef became the manager. The resort opened on Tuesday 3 October 1972 and remained fully booked for the rest of the year, an augury of its success ever since.

“We knew nothing about tourism,” said Maniku. “It was tourists who helped us build the industry here. We listened to them and gave them what they wanted. Luckily for us, they wanted simplicity in natural surroundings and that was what we had to offer and all we could afford.”

Kurumba – A Lasting Success
From hosting 60 guests a month, Kurumba can now accommodate 14,000 a month. The handful of friends who opened the resort has grown to a staff of 450, several of whom have been at Kurumba for more than 20 years. “In the beginning,” said Maniku, “we didn’t know what to cook for these tourists from overseas, or how to deal with them. I had a recipe book in English which I translated into Dhivehi so the boys could understand, I was cook, gardener and room boy. We had to do everything ourselves.”

After the airport was extended to take long haul flights, Kurumba was expanded to accommodate more people, truly resembling a tropical village, but with the introduction of all the facilities (like fresh water, air-conditioning and several restaurants) that make foreigners feel comfortable. To meet the demands of the 21st century, a complete rejuvenation of Kurumba took place in 2003, transforming it into a top class resort with 180 rooms, including a Royal Residence, Presidential Suites, Pool Villas, Family Villas and beach and garden superior rooms.

Kurumba has matured over the years into the Grand Hotel of the Maldives, setting the benchmark in hospitality standards copied throughout the Maldives, as well as by resorts in other tropical destinations.