The duration allowed to close resorts for redevelopment has been extended to two years.
The extension of the closure period was granted in the first amendment to the regulation on the extension of the period granted for the development of properties leased for tourism and the deferral of lease and fines. Previously, a resort was only allowed to close for redevelopment for 18 months.
The Ministry of Tourism allows resorts that have already closed for redevelopment for 18 months to apply for an additional one-year extension. The ministry also has the authority to extend the redevelopment work if it is not completed within that period.
The regulation states that the government will inspect the premises and the materials and workers required for redevelopment prior to granting the extension. In addition, the resort developer is required to submit a report describing the completion of the work with a certificate from an authorised quantity surveyor or structural checker. It further states that in cases where property rights in relation to a resort are transferred to another party following a court judgement, the beginning of the redevelopment period would be the date in which the property rights are transferred.
The regulation previously stated that the maximum period allowed for an extension of a redevelopment period is three years, or four years if the resort is being developed on an uninhabited island. However, the amendment allows the ministry to further extend the redevelopment period. The amendment also removes the requirement for the resort developer to set a deadline in which the redevelopment work would be completed when requesting for an extension of the redevelopment period and the deferral of lease and fines.