President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Sunday ratified the eighth amendment to the Tourism Act. The amendment was passed by the Parliament at the 7th sitting of its second session, on June 29, 2016. Following ratification, the Act has been published in the Government Gazette.
The act facilitates formulation of guidelines for leasing of islands, land, or lagoons for tourism development, without the prerequisite of a bidding process.
The bill, tabled on behalf of the Government by Villimalé MP Ahmed Nihan Hussein Manik, was passed with 45 votes in favour, and 19 against. The amendment also set guidelines for leasing properties for such bids.
Prior to the amendment, the Tourism Ministry leased islands and lands for tourism development under a competitive bidding process. But the amendment would allow the Government to accept unsolicited bids for acquisition of islands, lagoons and land plots for tourism development.