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Plans to develop the most remote part of the
Maldives into a new tourist zone were unveiled to
the tourism industry in London recently.
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 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.
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