Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal has highlighted the ongoing efforts to reopen the largest resort in Addu City, Shangri-La Resort and Spa. Minister made the remarks during the ceremony held at Velana International Airport (VIA) to welcome the millionth tourist of the year to the Maldives.
Renowned for its luxury standards, Shangri-La Resort offers a total of 284 beds, including 60 water villas, 26 beach villas, 28 pool villas, 16 tree houses, and two presidential villas, spanning an expansive area of 550,000 square meters.
The resort initially began operations with a 30% government stake and 70% ownership by Addu Investment Private Limited, a joint venture established to manage the property with the government. However, following its closure due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the government relinquished its shares in August 2023. The closure resulted in significant job losses for many residents of Addu who eagerly await the resort's reopening.
Minister Faisal emphasised that reopening Shangri-La Resort is a top priority for the government. He underscored the government's commitment to advancing the tourism industry in Addu City, noting the ongoing discussions with China's Eastern Airlines to commence direct flight operations to the city. The minister stressed the necessity of increasing the bed capacity in Addu, as the introduction of direct flights is expected to boost tourist arrivals.
Further, Minister Faisal indicated that an additional 4,000 to 6,000 beds are required to ensure sustainable tourism in the city. He revealed the government will prioritise local tourism to enhance the developments.