The Maldives government is intensifying efforts to boost tourism in the northern regions of the country, aiming to launch 4,000 new tourist beds in conjunction with the completion of the Hanimaadhoo International Airport project. Minister of Tourism, Ibrahim Faisal, announced this during a parliamentary session, where he responded to questions from MPs about the government’s tourism plans.
Minister Faisal reiterated President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s commitment to expanding the tourism sector, particularly in areas that have yet to benefit from the industry. The Minister highlighted that the government has already allocated several islands in the northern atolls for tourism development, including 15 hectares of Vaikaramuraidhoo in Haa Alif Atoll, one of the first islands earmarked for this purpose.
“Currently, 460 tourist beds have been registered in the northern province, and with three more islands allocated for tourism, we have 1,886 beds under development,” said Minister Faisal.
The completion of the Hanimaadhoo International Airport, expected by March 2025, is seen as a critical infrastructure development to support this expansion. Minister Faisal confirmed that the government aims to have 4,000 additional tourist beds ready in the northern region once the airport is operational, significantly boosting the area’s tourism capacity.
As part of the government’s broader initiative to attract investment, investor forums are being organized in several key markets, including Singapore, Thailand, and Dubai, scheduled for the first and second quarters of next year. “These forums are vital to attracting investors to regions that have untapped tourism potential in the Maldives,” Minister Faisal added.
The government believes that increased communication with international investors will help showcase the Maldives’ northern regions as prime areas for tourism development, bringing more opportunities to areas where tourism has been historically underdeveloped.
The ambitious plans for northern tourism expansion come as part of the current administration’s broader strategy to diversify and decentralize the tourism sector, ensuring that regions beyond the capital Malé and central atolls share in the economic benefits of the industry.
