Uligan, Haa Alifu Atoll, has recorded a significant increase in the number of yacht arrivals compared to last year. A total of 40 yachts docked in Uligan last year, while 80 yachts are scheduled to arrive this year.
Speaking to PSM News, President of Uligan Island Council Ahmed Muaz said six yachts have docked on the island so far this year and eight yachts will be arriving next week. He also noted that there are currently no establishments that cater to tourists, such as restaurants, but the number of tourist visits will increase with the development of a guesthouse and a city hotel.
Additionally, Muaz said the development of Hanimaadhoo International Airport will also boost the number of tourist arrivals, and that the council aims to establish services for tourists prior to the development of the airport. He highlighted that young residents of Uligan work as yacht agents and that the council aims to develop the local tourism industry to provide more opportunities for the youth.
Uligan Island Council recently invited bids for the projects to develop a guesthouse and a city hotel on the island. The government is also working to develop tourism in the northernmost region of the Maldives. As such, the Ministry of Tourism plans to invite bids for the development of three new resorts in the north.