Saturday
26th Oct 2024
Dhivehi Edition
Minister Ibrahim Faisal
Government to Cancel Contracts for 22 Islands with Inactive Development Projects: Minister Faisal
Minister Faisal, Photo: Majilis.
The government is moving forward with plans to cancel contracts for 22 islands where tourism development projects have stalled, according to Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal.
Minister Faisal made the announcement during a recent parliamentary session, responding to a query from Maafannu South MP Abdulla Rifau regarding the inactivity on several islands slated for tourism development. He noted that this issue has persisted for years, affecting the industry’s overall growth.
"Upon taking office, I immediately focused on identifying islands where development projects had been delayed for extended periods," Minister Faisal stated. He revealed that a list of 58 islands had been compiled, with a committee named 'Disperse Island' formed to engage with the developers of these islands and explore options to bring them to market for tourism.
Out of these 58 islands, 22 are facing potential contract cancellations due to the prolonged inactivity. Minister Faisal highlighted that legal advice has been sought from the Attorney General’s office to proceed with the cancellations. He also emphasized that a detailed policy paper, outlining the challenges and the current status of these islands, has been submitted to the Economic Council for further deliberation.
The minister pointed out that past efforts to address similar issues had led to contract cancellations by the Tourism Ministry, but legal complications had hindered swift action. As part of the government’s approach to resolving these issues, the ministry is now working to amend laws to prevent such delays and ensure faster development of islands allocated for tourism.