Only three days after the Indian Ocean tsunami swept over almost all the islands and atolls of the Maldives, tourists are once again willing to travel to the sparsely-populated archipelago, according to travel agencies and Maldives officials.

That is a measure of the resilience of tourism in the face of unprecedented devastation and human tragedy. For the Maldives government, it is a relief as it seeks to fund rescue efforts with hard currency from tourism. For tour operators, it also helps explain why they are putting a brave face on the crisis.