Bidding opens for Sh. Nalandhoo resort development

Government on Thursday opened bidding for the development of a resort in Sh. Nalandhoo, which has beautiful natural features, as was pledged by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

One of the promises made by President Solih during his visit to the atoll last January for the MDP presidential primary campaign was that he would open Nalandhoo for resort development before the end of his term.

The Ministry of Tourism issued an announcement on Thursday inviting bids for the development and operation of a resort in Nalandhoo.

According to the announcement, an online information meeting will be held on Tuesday at 11am for interested candidates. Bids are due to be submitted on the 9th of next month.

Nalandhoo was rented out for agriculture many years ago. It covers an area of 60 hectares and has a large blue lagoon within the encircling islet, making the island naturally extraordinary.

It has always been a complaint of the atoll residents that the island has been leased in a way that does not benefit the people of the atoll. The complaint was promised to be put to rest during the president's visit to atoll in 2021 as well.

The government has previously said:

However, the government has not revealed how much was paid in compensation to the previous lessee.

President-elect Dr Mohamed Muizzu has requested that new projects should not be taken up at this transitional phase.