44 out of 88 islands leased for tourism development since 1997 have yet to be completed, Tourism Minister Moosa Zameer says. He revealed this during a press conference organised by the Parliamentary Group of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives.
Zameer said that "the Government needs to pursue other avenues to lease property for tourism development as the competitive bidding process has largely been unsuccessful". Leasing property through open bidding had not been productive for the tourism sector, he added. The Parliament recently passed an amendment to the Tourism Act which enables unsolicited leasing of islands, lagoons, and land plots for tourism development.
According to Zameer, the Government is currently undertaking joint-venture tourism development projects with private companies, as per existing laws and regulations. Citing the country’s tax policies, he highlighted the need for more such joint venture projects to further the tourism sector. "The open bidding process had failed to attract investors and developers for tourism development projects in some regions of the country", he added.
He also noted that development of three islands leased in Haa Dhaalu Atoll through an open bidding process have yet to be completed.