Unbuilt Resorts to Be Launched for Tourism Soon: Minister Faisal

Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal has revealed that the islands allocated for tourism development will be reopened soon. In an interview with PSM News, Minister Faisal shared that after assuming office, he collected information on the unbuilt resort islands. According to the Ministry of Tourism, 63 resorts have been awarded but have not yet been built or opened.

Minister Faisal highlighted that some of these islands have been allocated for tourism development for as long as 30 years. To address this, a bill has been submitted to the Economic Council, and two options have been approved for moving forward.

One option is to hand over the islands to the state without any conditions. The government will also arrange concessions in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and the Inland Revenue Authority (IRA) to address the large amounts of money owed to the state.

Additionally, the council has approved a procedure to assist investors in securing the necessary funds and, if needed, selling the investment to another party. This approach aims to facilitate the development of these resort islands, thereby enhancing the Maldives' tourism infrastructure and economic growth.

These measures are expected to revitalize the tourism sector by bringing new resorts into operation, attracting more visitors, and generating increased revenue for the country.