Development Down South
Plans to develop the most remote part of the
Maldives into a new tourist zone were unveiled
to the tourism industry in London last week.
The project will bring prosperity and new jobs
to Addu Atoll, and particularly the island of
Gan, in the southern-most part of the Maldives.
New career opportunities in the hotel and catering
sector and demand for local expertise and opportunities
to sample Maldivian culture will boost employment
for the islanders and will contribute to the
overall growth of the economy of the region.
In a presentation given at the 2006 World Travel
Market, which took place November 12-15 in London,
the director-general of the Maldives tourism
Promotion Board (MTPB), Dr Abdulla Mausoom,
said that new hotels are to be built on four
islands in the south of Maldives, providing
300 extra beds. “We need the additional
capacity because we always have a shortage of
beds in peak season,” he said. “Visitor
numbers are down from two years ago but we are
running at an average of 82 per cent occupancy
all year round.”
The population of Addu has risen rapidly in
recent years to about 28,000, living on six
of the islands that comprise the atoll. The
population is projected to rise to 50,000 by
2025. It is the second most densely populated
atoll in the Maldives after Malé. Tourism
development is vital to ensure future prosperity
of the region and to provide sustainable incomes
for local people.
The development plan includes the concept of
community island hotels on large inhabited islands,
which will be a first for the Maldives. Up to
now, hotel complexes have been confined to previously
uninhabited islands on the principle of “one
island one resort”, and contact with local
people and culture is limited to day excursions
to nearby local islands.
“The Maldives is seeing record numbers
of visitors arriving each day, winter and summer,
peaking at around 600,00 annually,” said
Dr Mausoom. “We know the ‘one island
one resort’ concept in the Maldives is
entirely successful and in time we are very
likely to welcome one million visitors a year
at some 139 resorts.”
The tourism development plan includes another
first for the Maldives- the creation of a new
public company in which Maldivian citizens will
be able to invest in a 55 per cent majority
of shares. The government will hold the remaining
45 per cent of stock.
The creation of a new southern tourist zone
is part of a tourism master plan that includes
the development of 35 new resorts on previously
uninhabited islands. It’s understood that
20 of the new island leases have been allocated
and are to be developed into ten luxury resorts
and also ten medium-range hotels to address
the demand for more affordable accommodation
in the Maldives. The destination is increasingly
popular with holiday-makers seeking a bargain
stay in an exotic resort, who travel on cheap
charter flights promoted by tour operators in
Europe, in addition to the up-market visitors
who revel in the five-star luxury of Maldives
hotels and exclusive private islands.
Gan Island in the Addu Atoll has great potential
for tourism development. It has sumptuous vegetation,
palm trees and green fields and most islanders
speak English. There are good roads and numerous
nature hiking paths and pristine beaches with
clear water. A network of causeways links Gan
to four neighbouring islands and dive sites.
By David Browne
November 25, 2006 (Minivan News) |
