The Ministry of Tourism has decided to set up a special task force to reopen Shangri-La Resort and Spa, the largest resort in Addu City. Known for its luxurious standards, Shangri-La Resort offers 284 beds, including 60 water villas, 26 beach villas, 28 pool villas, 16 tree houses, and two presidential villas, spread across 550,000 square meters.
The resort originally began operations with a 30% government stake and 70% ownership by Addu Investment Private Limited, a joint venture established to manage the property alongside the government. However, following its closure due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the government relinquished its shares in August 2023. The closure resulted in significant job losses for many residents of Addu, who are eagerly awaiting the resort's reopening.
The Ministry of Tourism stated that they convened with the management of Shangri-La Hotels and the parliamentarians of the Addu City constituencies to establish a special task force dedicated to reopening the Shangri-La Hotel in Addu.
Today, we convened with @ShangriLaHotels management and Addu City MPs to establish a special task force dedicated to reopening the Shangri-La Hotel in Addu. This crucial step underscores our commitment to boosting tourism in the area and achieving significant progress. pic.twitter.com/UWqpdQJSIV
— Ministry of Tourism (@MoTmv) July 4, 2024
Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal has emphasised that reopening Shangri-La Resort is a top priority for the government. He underscored the government's commitment to advancing the tourism industry in Addu City, noting ongoing discussions with China's Eastern Airlines to commence direct flight operations to the city. The minister stressed the necessity of increasing the bed capacity in Addu, as the introduction of direct flights is expected to boost tourist arrivals.