"In 2023, not a single resort, and not a single tourist hotel, was newly opened in the country."

In his presidential address, President Mohamed Muizzu said that not a single new resort or tourist hotel was opened in the Maldives in 2023. However, information released by the Tourism Ministry, news sources and other online sources confirm his statement is false.

The Tourism Yearbook 2024, published by the Tourism Ministry, lists the new resorts opened in 2023. Since this is a report that includes statistics and highlights from the past year, it contains information on the resorts that opened in 2023.

According to the tourism yearbook, eight resorts opened in 2023. These include two resorts in Kaafu Atoll, two resorts in Lhaviyani Atoll, and resorts in Baa Atoll, Raa Atoll and Vaavu Atoll.

Although eight resorts were opened, the ministry listed seven as newly opened. Other sources suggest that the eighth resort is Madifushi Private Island, which opened at the beginning of the year.

Resorts opened in 2023

• Madifushi Private Island - January 17, 2023
• Joy Maldives - September 3 2023
• SO/ Maldives - November 1, 2023
• Mabinhura by Jawakara - October 22, 2023
• Dheruh Finolhu by Jawakara - October 22, 2023
• Avani+Fares Maldives - April 1, 2023
• Amari Raaya Maldives - August 1, 2023
• NOOE Maldives Kunaavashi - May 5, 2023

Other statistics released by the Tourism Ministry clearly show that resorts were opened in 2023. One of the statistics that supports this is the registered capacity and operational capacity figures published by the ministry in both its daily and monthly reports.

Registered capacity is the number of registered tourist resorts, hotels, guesthouses and safari vessels. Operational capacity is the number of registered establishments operating or serving tourists.

Compared to 2022, the number of registered and operational resorts increased in 2023. The number of registered establishments increased from 172 to 180 and the number of operating establishments increased from 168 to 172.

These figures indicate that the number of registered and operating resorts has increased by eight. This figure also matches the number of resorts that the Tourism Ministry announced to have opened.

Despite the opening of resorts, no new tourist hotels were opened in 2023. However, the operational capacity of tourist hotels increased by 300 beds during the year after the temporarily closed Ifuru Transit Hotel reopened.