How does govt plan to fund USD 3 billion projects to add 8000 tourism beds in Thiladhunmathi: Saeed

Member of Parliament for the Maavashu constituency, Mohamed Saeed, asked about the government's plans to get funding of USD 3 billion for the tourism project to increase bed capacity up to 8000, to welcome more tourists.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had said that upon the completion of Hanimaadhoo International Airport, the government aspires to establish 8000 more tourism beds in that area. Despite the Solih administration’s plans for the Thiladhunmathi area, the southernmost Atoll of Addu was promised the same 8000 beds during his 2018 election campaign, which still remains unfulfilled.

Referring to the USD 132 million loans taken from India for the Hanimaadhoo Airport project, Saeed said that the priciest airport developed during President Yameen’s administration cost only USD 18 million, which meant that USD 132 million could easily be used to develop 8 airports.

Additionally, Saeed said that over the last fifty years, Baa Atoll, Lhaviyani Atoll, Alif Alif and Alif Dhaal Atoll, saw the addition of 11000 beds in total. Therefore, if the government plans to add 8000 beds in Thiladhunmathi, that means building 80 resorts of 100-bed capacity and it will cost close to USD 40 million to develop even a three-star resort.

Saeed stated that the math suggests that the endeavor will cost the state, roughly USD 3.2 billion. After which he questioned how the government planned to acquire those funds within the next year.

Furthermore, Saeed suggested that the government is bringing the nation under the GMR shadows for a second time under the guise of developing Hanimaadhoo Airport.