Tourist resorts and hotels across the Maldives will be able to continue offering spa facilities after the government announced that it had overturned a ban imposed last week.

A circular sent by the country's Tourism Ministry ordered operators throughout the Indian Ocean archipelago to close their spas following protests led by opposition political parties.

However, the government has now asked the Supreme Court to adjudicate whether spas are legal under the Maldivian constitution and has lifted the ban until a decision is made.

It is believed that some of the opposition parties involved in the religious protests are led or "heavily influenced" by resort owners who insist they did not support such a ban.

Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed said: "We wanted to impress upon everyone where the opposition's demands were ultimately going to end."

A spokesperson for the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) said: "The WTTC estimates the total contribution of travel and tourism to the Maldives GDP will be as big as 70.5 per cent in 2011 and that the industry will generate as many as 87,000 jobs.

"Due to these compelling figures, WTTC strongly advises that the Maldives government keeps the spas in resorts and hotels in operation to ensure the overall benefit of its economy."

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