Male, Dec 3 (IANS): The Maldives police have established a special unit for tourists visiting capital Male, an official said Wednesday.

The Tourist Police unit, which began operations Monday, is tasked with providing protection and informing tourists of Maldivian law, Xinhua reported.

The unit will ensure that tour guides adhere to regulations specified under the Maldives Tourism Act.

Chief Superintendent Ismail Naveen, head of the Central Operations Command, said that the unit will guarantee more public safety.

"We need to improve the Maldives' public image," Naveen said, "and because of this unit, a trust in Maldivian law enforcement will be built and Maldives' public image will be improved."

China (31.8 percent), India (3.5 percent), Japan (3.1 percent) and South Korea (2.7 percent) were the leading markets from Asia and the Pacific region, to visit the Indian Ocean group of islands famous for its pristine beaches.

The islands expect more than a million tourists to visit by the end of 2014.