Kaani Hotels leases large lagoon in Vaavu atoll

The government has given the large Bodufinolhu sandbank and lagoon at Vaavu atoll on long-term lease to Kaani Hotels, which is famous for its guesthouse business.

This Vaavu atoll sandbank is famous among both Vaavu atoll and neighboring Kaafu atoll, where the resorts and local guesthouses bring their tourists on excursions. The concern over the sale of the property was expressed by the President of the Thinadhoo Council, Hussain Shifag.

According to a post shared on his X, the lagoon was leased for USD 729,000 (MVR 11.2 million).

Shifag told Atoll Times on Thursday that the lagoon was leased late last month to Kaani Hotels, the largest city hotel operator in K.Maafushi.

Kaani Hotels could not be reached for comment on the deal.

Expressing concern over the government's decision to give the beach to a private businessman, Shifag said the beach was the only beach in the atoll where more than 200 tourists visit daily from guesthouses and resorts in the atoll.

"If it had not been sold, the state's revenue would have been many times higher. We do not want to sell such a place from Vaavu atoll. The last government sold both Ambara and Bodumohora islands from this atoll. If this sandbank is sold too there is no way to expand local tourism. What exactly will we entice tourists with when we are advertising and marketing?” Shifag explained.

The lagoon was on the list opened by the government on May 30 for tourist development. However, the list does not include the lagoon by its name. Also, the Ministry of Tourism has not yet released a list of the properties on the list that have been sold so far.

The list announced by the ministry included the acquisition cost of the property at USD 729,000. The site covers an area of ​​0.62 hectares.