President pledges to end ‘no tourism’ label in Haa Dhaal Atoll
The President also said that more efforts will be made to boost tourism across the atoll, with visible results expected.
President Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the government will give priority to promoting tourism in the northern region and work to remove the perception that Haa Dhaal Atoll has no tourism activity.
Speaking during a visit to Naavaidhoo on Monday, the President said that local and resort tourism in the atoll has not developed, despite opportunities. Haa Dhaal currently has one of the lowest numbers of resorts in the Maldives.
The President stated that about 10 areas, including lagoons and parts of lagoons, have been opened for investment under open and closed tendering. Investors have already expressed interest in some areas and are clarifying information, he said.
He also shared updates on the long-delayed Naagoashi resort project, first allocated to the Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) in 2006. The President said MTDC has now mobilised to begin work on the project with support from the Ministry of Finance through the Bank of Maldives.
“It is a very old issue. The project has not moved forward. Now we have enabled this work to be carried out at speed,” he said.
The government has pledged to make Haa Dhaal Atoll a region where tourism is active, he added.
Naagoashi Resort Project:
-
2007: MTDC signed an agreement with Russian company Threecare to develop a 600-bed resort.
-
2016: Agreement cancelled after nine years due to non-payment of rent and lack of progress; 37% of the resort was completed.
-
2017: The island was reclaimed by the Ministry of Tourism.
-
2021: The island was handed back to MTDC and Dubai’s Galadhari Holdings.
-
2023: MTDC cancelled the Galadhari agreement due to lack of progress.
The President also said that more efforts will be made to boost tourism across the atoll, with visible results expected.
