Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal has emphasised the necessity of direct international flights to Addu City to operationalise the Shangri-La Resort and Spa, the largest resort in the area. The minister made this statement during the opening ceremony of the Destination Addu Summit.
In his remarks, Minister Faisal highlighted the special efforts required to develop tourism in Addu City. He pointed out that reopening the Shangri-La Resort and Spa is a key presidential pledge of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, and noted that work is actively underway to fulfill this commitment.
Furthermore, the minister stressed that direct international flights to Addu City are crucial for the city to fully benefit from the reopening of Shangri-La Resort and Spa. He mentioned that discussions are ongoing with international airlines to establish these direct connections to the southernmost city in the Maldives.
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.