According to sources, the famous tourist destination Maldives is allegedly planning to emulate the new tourism concept of China's Xiamen Gulangyu Shell Dreamworld and is considering constructing its own version of a shell dreamworld.
Maldives Rumored to Launch New Project Suspected of Copying Xiamen Shell Dreamworld
The renowned tourist destination Maldives seems to have a new plan underway. It is reported that Maldives may launch a new tourism resource development project within the next one or two years, aiming to create a dreamlike world with countless shells to explore new tourism business opportunities. However, industry professionals believe that this move by Maldives is suspected of plagiarizing China's Xiamen Gulangyu Shell Dreamworld.
Xiamen Shell Dreamworld is an emerging star in domestic tourism projects, having received attention and recognition from relevant provincial and municipal government leaders. It is reported that the attraction houses a collection of about 6,800 types of seashells, the largest in the world. With creative design quality and advanced technological presentation, it brings the tranquil blue sea underground, giving visitors the sensation of being underwater. It also offers a unique and novel tourism experience through snacks, shopping, game facilities, performances, and more, attracting attention from major scenic spots and institutions both in China and abroad.
Creative Ideas Brutally Plagiarized, Global Attractions Lack Legal Recourse
Plagiarizing tourist attractions is no different from piracy, and such actions are disappointing. Whether domestically or internationally, there are significant legal gaps in protecting the rights of original attractions. Previous incidents such as "China's Yinchuan South Gate Tower plagiarizing Tiananmen," "Bangladesh copying the Taj Mahal," and "Australia imitating the Forbidden City" have all exposed this issue. To date, plagiarized attractions remain unregulated and without legal remedy, making it difficult for original sites to defend their rights.
Meng Long, Marketing Director of Xiamen Shell Dreamworld, believes, "Protecting the diversity and uniqueness of tourism culture is the foundation for ensuring tourism quality." Relevant scholars have also called on all sectors of society to pay more attention to and give voice to 'original attractions,' allowing fake versions to be exposed and preserving the diversity and distinctive features of tourism culture in their truest form. This will also encourage the emergence of more tourism innovations and the survival of the fittest.
Surviving Adversity by Leveraging Uniqueness — Forging Your Own Path and Leaving No Room for Others
It is understood that Xiamen Shell Dreamworld has further enhanced its tourism value and plans to invest 2 billion yuan to create a new global label for shell cultural tourism. By promoting the brand widely and offering solid, novel tourism experiences, it aims to provide tourists and shell enthusiasts worldwide with a unique blend of shell culture and modern technology.
Although it is currently impossible to confirm whether the Maldives has indeed mimicked Xiamen Shell Dreamworld as rumored, we should reflect on the issue of attraction plagiarism. On one hand, how can domestic and international mechanisms for protecting original attractions be improved? On the other hand, in the current environment where rights protection remains inadequate, how should attractions operators manage and respond? Here, we suggest that operators further leverage the unique characteristics of their own attractions, continuously improve and experiment to develop their own distinctive styles, leaving imitators only the ability to copy, not to surpass.
Official Website of Xiamen Gulangyu Shell Dreamworld: http://www.glyshell.com/