The southern atolls are well connected to the capital, with five regional airports and daily connections. There has been a lot of development, with more guesthouses and new resorts opening in the region. Culturally, this area of the Maldives is very interesting, with influence from the former British RAF military station in Gan. There was so little for soldiers to do that they introduced O-Level exams to locals and started teaching. Southern Maldivians used to enjoy free trade and independence from the capital that now dominates all trade across the whole region.
