The government last night announced plans to develop an integrated tourism zone in the lagoon of Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo.
Speaking at a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) campaign rally in Thinadhoo for the September 9 presidential election, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said the cabinet's economic council made the decision last week and stressed the importance of the project.
"As you know, the economic council made two very important decisions during the past week. One is to develop an integrated tourism zone in the lagoon of this Thinadhoo," he said.
Land will be reclaimed as part of the tourism zone development, which would also create space for business and industrial work, he added.
A project to upgrade the Kaadedhdhoo airport to international status will be carried out at the same time, the president said.
The economic council also decided to carry out a similar tourism project in the Gaaf Alif Villingili lagoon, he noted.
During his campaign trip on Wednesday, Solih also announced the decision to accord city status to Thinadhoo.
Several infrastructure projects have been carried out in Thinadhoo during Solih's five-year term, including the expansion of the island's hospital with an OPD area, labor room and four private rooms for the NICU. A project to develop a 100-bed tertiary hospital was recently awarded to the China National Electrical Engineering Company (CNEEC).
Thinadhoo was uninhabited for four years after the island was depopulated in 1962. It was resettled in 1966. In the 57 years since then, Thinadhoo has become the main urban centre of Huvadhu atoll.
