The government on Thursday announced the lease of a total of 12 islands and five lagoons for tourism development.
The Tourism Ministry invited submissions of proposals for the development of tourist facilities in the uninhabited islands and plots of lagoons.
On Saturday, the ministry amended the announcement to correct a miscalculation in the minimum lease acquisition cost proposed for a 46-hectare lagoon in Kaafu atoll, revising the figure down from USD 10.9 million to USD 8.5 million.
If all the islands and lagoons announced by the Tourism Ministry are leased, the state would earn USD 69 million (MVR 1 billion) as lease acquisition costs. But investors were only found for a few of the islands offered for resort development over the past five years.
The Tourism Ministry's announcement did not include a deadline for submitting bids. The announcement only included the names and locations of the islands and lagoons with interested parties to email the ministry to seek further information.
The Tourism Ministry also made an announcement on Thursday with revised rules for calculating lease acquisition costs.
Islands and lagoons offered for resort development
- Haa Dhaalu Vaikaramuraidhoo (15 hectares) - USD 1.8 million
- Shaviyani Kudalhaimendhoo (13.11 hectares) - USD 1.9 million
- Raa Dhikkurehdhoo (4.83 hectares) - USD 2.6 million
- Lhaviyani Dhiffushi and Maidhoo (20.99 + 15.17 hectares) USD 18.5 million
- Lhaviyani Vihafarufinolhu (0.28 hectares) - USD 640,000
- Kaafu Himmiyaa Falhu (712 hectares) - USD 23.51 milliom
- Kaafu atoll lagoon (46 hectares) - USD 8.4 million
- Alifu Alifu Alikoirah (1.47 hectares) - USD 1.29 million
- Vaavu atoll lagoon (0.62 hectares) - USD 729,000
- Thaa Gaalee lagoon with island (6.96 + 0.20 hectares) - USD 2.04 million
- Thaa Ruhthibirah (8.41 hectares) - USD 2.35 million
- Thaa Kanimeedhoo (10 hectares) - USD 2.75 million
- Laamu Kashidhoo (3.11 hectares) - USD 466,500
- Laamu Bodumungnafushi (3.14 hectares) - USD 471,000
- Laamu Hanhushi (2.81 hectares) - USD 421,500
- Gaaf Alifu Beyrumauddoo (3.08 hectares) - USD 385,000
- Gaaf Dhaalu Kalhehuttaa (7.61 hectares) - USD 951,250
