Maldives seeks Indian investment for resort development near Hanimaadhoo airport

Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal announced on Thursday that efforts are underway to attract Indian investors to develop and open three resorts near HDh. Hanimaadhoo International Airport.

In a briefing about the recent Welcome India roadshow, Faisal emphasised the need for 4,000 to 6,000 tourism beds in the region to ensure the airport operates efficiently. He noted that the expansion of Hanimaadhoo airport is nearing completion and highlighted the importance of developing additional tourism beds in the surrounding area to support the airport’s operations.

The Ministry plans to organise an investor forum in India later this year, targeting investors in the tourism sector. Despite budget constraints, there is a strong push from industry stakeholders to return to India and secure investments for two to three high-end resort projects in the region.

Mohamed Khaleel, tourism development advisor to President Mohamed Muizzu, warned that without sufficient tourism infrastructure, Hanimaadhoo airport could become a “white elephant.” He stressed the importance of directing tourism investments to the area, particularly encouraging small and medium enterprises to invest in the development of guesthouses.

Khaleel pointed out that the expansion of guesthouses would benefit the broader economy and suggested that direct international flights could address the challenges posed by high transportation costs to remote areas.

The Hanimaadhoo airport project is being carried out by Kalpataru Projects International Limited (KPIL), an Indian engineering and construction firm, with funding from a loan by Exim Bank of India. The project includes the construction of a 2,460-meter runway and a terminal with the capacity to serve 1.3 million tourists annually. The airport is expected to be ready to accommodate Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft by March next year.