Thursday
19th Dec 2024
Dhivehi Edition
Ali Nizar, Mayor of Addu City.
Establishing 8000 tourist beds in Addu is one of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's pledges. He has yet to reveal how the goal is to be accomplished.
Mayor of Addu City Ali Nizar has stated that 8000 tourist beds will be established in Addu within the coming two years. Speaking to Avas News, Nizar claimed that the work is currently underway according to the government's plan, with an addition of 1000 beds to Hankede Resort.
"Development of tourism zones in Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, and Feydhoo are also in progress, with an estimate of about 1200 beds", said Nizar.
He stated that practical work has begun, and the goal to establish 8000 beds will be complete within two years.
Can it be done?
Nizar has stated that 8000 beds will be established within two years, and Hankede Resort alone will have 1000 beds. This, however, is doubtful.
Hankede Resort does not even have enough land area for 1000 beds. Canareef Resort, the largest in Addu in terms of landmass, has a total of 542 beds. Even the largest resort in the country, Sun Island Resort, does not have 1000 beds. The largest most recently constructed Olhuveli Resort has 654 beds.
The Hankede area is about 3.2 hectares. While Sun Island has 45 hectares, Shangri-La has about 50 hectares. Both islands do not have 1000 beds. Establishing 1000 beds in Hankede appeared to be an impossible feat.
While Nizar has claimed the establishment of 8000 beds in two years, atolls that have made the most progress in tourism have yet to amount to 8000 beds. Apart from the Male' Atoll, the atoll with the most resorts, Alif Dhaal Atoll, had 4676 beds by 2018. A total comprising 17 resorts and 48 guesthouses.
47 resorts were operating in the Male Atoll by 2018, with beds totaling 10,568. A several billion Rufiyaa investment, 10,568 beds is the total from when tourism was first established in the Maldives, until now.
Currently, Addu City has 1174 tourist beds. Apart from the Male' Atoll, no other atoll has over 5000 beds. Therefore, establishing 8000 beds in Addu City within two years is impossible. Such false claims are meant to mislead the public.