HOTEL room inventory in the Maldives is set to soar by at least 10 per cent in the next two years, with a guesthouse island project and a new luxury property on the way.
The site of the first development, which will house some 2,100 rooms in the mid-range segment, has just been moved from Thumburi on Laamu Atoll to the 72ha Baresdhoo on the same atoll.
Speaking to TTG Asia e-Daily, deputy tourism minister of the Maldives, Hussain Lirar, said the new site is larger and only 10 minutes away from the domestic airport, as compared to Thumburi’s 20-30 minutes.
Managed by the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation and first announced in June 2014, the new development will feature small hotels and guesthouses as well as restaurants, shops, entertainment centres and diving facilities provided by independent operators.
The Maldives had 23,917 rooms in 111 resorts at the end of 2014.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Asia Capital is joining Japanese partner Belluna to build a 70-key luxury resort on Miriandhoo island on Baa Atoll at a cost of US$45 million.
Stefan Abeyesinhe, group CEO at Asia Capital, said there are ample opportunities for new investments in the Maldivian tourism industry as the increase in bed capacity is not adequate to cater to the fast-growing tourism industry.
