18 resorts will be opened in the Maldives this year, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated. The president made the announcement in the presidential address delivered at the first parliamentary session of 2021.
In his address, the president said the tourism industry suffered heavily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government is working hard to rebuild the industry, said the president, noting that 18 resorts will be opened this year, including those currently in development. This will add 5,062 tourist beds to the market, said the president. Therefore, over 9,000 new jobs will be available in the tourism sector within this year, he added.
The president noted that the government aims to ensure that the benefits of the tourism industry reaches all corners of the archipelago. In this regard, several plots of land from local islands were opened up for tourist hotel and guest house development last year, said the president. He further noted that changes were brought to the law such that individual villas and rooms in local resorts can be leased to other parties for extended periods, and said that it is an important step to expand the tourism sector.
President Solih said 1,200 individuals will be trained every year for different economic sectors. This will build the capacity needed to expand the sectors, said the president.
