Assigned Islands For Resorts

Because of the high number of tourists, 46 islands will become new resorts from now to the end of next year. In 2004, eleven islands were transformed into resorts and will be open next months
The islands are: Alidhoo (Haa Alifu), Hodaafushi (Haa Dhaalu), Dholhiyadhoo (shaviyani), Maavelavaru (Noonu), Randheli (Noonu), Kalhufahalafushi (Thaa), Olhuveli (Laamu), Funamudua (Gaafu Alifu), Hadahaa (Gaafu Alifu), Konotta (Gaafu Dhaalu) and Lonudhuhutta (Gaafu Dhaalu)
From April to June 2006, the Government of Maldives has plans to release 35 new islands for tourist resort development, consisting of 20 islands to be placed on bid and 15 islands to be awarded to a proposed public company for tourism development. There was the kind of bid:

• Lease-Rent Controlled Bids:
  In this type of bids, the highest rent that can be proposed per bed per year is fixed. This is meant to facilities medium-priced resorts to enter the market over the next one to two years. Controlling the lease-rent at a reasonable level is meant to help lighten the burden of raising investment finance and ensure smooth completion of the project. The total lease period is 25 years and the rent after the tenth year will be determined based on the prevailing average lease rent rate in the Maldives tourism sector at that time.
• Lease-Rend Open Bids:
  In this type of bids, the islands will be awarded to the bidder who proposes the highest rend for the first 10 year period. This bid is targeted at islands with smaller bed capacity and is meant to provide the opportunity for bidders who may want to win a price competitive bid and develop innovative and luxury products. The total lease period is of the islands is 25 years and the rent after the tenth year will be determined based on the prevailing average lease rent rate in the Maldives tourism sector

Five Lease-Rent Controlled Islands (Bid on April 2006)

Manafaru (Haa Alifu Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :93,000sqm
Distance from closest airport :65km
Nearest inhabited islands :Huvarafushi (pop.2852),
Ihavandhoo (pop.2450)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Medhafushi, Govvaafushi
Proposed Bed capacity :100 beds

Kudamuraidhoo (Haa Dhaalu Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :225,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :33 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Nellaidhoo (pop.1000),
Kurin’bee (pop.668), Kulhudhuffushi (pop.7500)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Kudanaagoshi, Bodunaagoshi, Muiri
Proposed Bed capacity :250 beds

Kudafunafaru (Noonu Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :80,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :85 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Kudafari (pop.663)
, Kendhikulhudhoo (pop.1500)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Maafunafaru, Kuredhivaru, Dheefram
Proposed Bed capacity :100 beds

Malefushi (Thaa Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :79,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :75 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Guraidhoo (pop.1816)
, Dhiyamigili (pop.750)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Bodufinolhu, Lhavaddoo
Proposed Bed capacity :100 beds

Vatavarreha (Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :122,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :45 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Vaadhoo (pop.1384),
Fares-Maathodaa (pop.1700)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Kalharehaa, Laihaa, Boduhutta
Proposed Bed capacity :150 beds

Five Lease-Rent Open Islands (Bid on April 2006)

Vagaru (Shaviyani Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :69,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :75 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Funadhoo (pop.1500),
Firubaidhoo (pop.620)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Kambaalifaru, Eriyadhoo, Ekasdhoo
Proposed Bed capacity :70 beds

Lundhufushi (Raa Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :40,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :160 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Ungoofaaru (pop.1312),
Maakurathu (pop.1100)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Madivaafaru
Proposed Bed capacity :40 beds

Meradhoo (Gaafu Alifu Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :45,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :12.5 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Thinadhoo (pop.6200),
Dhevvadhoo (pop.1014)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Havoddaa, Havodigalaa, Minimessaa
Proposed Bed capacity :44 beds

Munandhuva (Gaafu Alifu Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :48,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :58 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Dhaandhoo (pop.1700),
Nilandhoo (pop.900)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Vodamulaa, Mahadhdhoo
Proposed Bed capacity :48 beds

Gazeera (Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :45,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :50 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Gadhdhoo (pop.2708),
Vaadhoo (pop.1400)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Faanahuttaa, Magudhdhuvaa
Proposed Bed capacity :44 beds

Five Lease-Rent Controlled Islands (Bid on June 2006)

Kabaalifaru (Shaviyani Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :159,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :71 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Fundhoo (pop.1650),
Lhaimagu (pop.720)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Eriyadhoo, Vagaru
Proposed Bed capacity :200 beds

Gaakoshibi (Shaviyani Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :181,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :56 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Billehfahi (pop.595),
Feydhoo (pop.1070)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Medhukuburudhoo, Naainfarufinolhu
Proposed Bed capacity :200 beds

Medhafushi (Noonu Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :158,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :113 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Holhudhoo (pop.2020),
Magoodhoo (pop.355)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Dhigurah, Minaavaru
Proposed Bed capacity :200 beds

Kanifushi (Lhaviyani Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :299,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :133 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Naifaru (pop.4480),
Kurendhoo (pop.1765)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Maavaafushi, Dhidhdhoo
Proposed Bed capacity :300 beds

Elaa (Thaa Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :279,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :57 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Veymandhoo (pop.1015),
Kibidhoo (pop.1220)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Ruththibirah, Kudakibidhoo
Proposed Bed capacity :280 beds

Five Lease-Rent Open Islands (Bid on June 2006)

Naridhoo (Haa Alifu Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :132,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :16 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Dhidhdhoo (pop.3475),
Vashafaru (pop.830)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Beenaafushi, Alidhuffarufinolhu
Proposed Bed capacity :100 beds

Maanenfushi (Raa Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :150,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :115 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Hulhudhuffaaru (pop.1225),
Agolhitheemu (pop.440)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Beenaafushi, Alidhuffarufinolhu
Proposed Bed capacity :100 beds

Gasveli, DhekunnuboduveLi, Kudafushi (Meemu Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :69,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :104 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Kolhufushi (pop.1225),
Naalaafushi (pop.465)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Maausfushi, Maahuraa
Proposed Bed capacity :60 beds

Mahadhoo (Gaafu Alifu Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :102,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :59 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Dhaandhoo (pop.1730),
Nilandhoo (pop.930)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Munandhoo, Funadhooviligili
Proposed Bed capacity :100 beds

Kaishidhoo (Gaafu Dhaal Atoll)
Approximate area of the island :63,000 sqm
Distance from closest airport :52 km
Nearest inhabited islands :Gadhdhoo (pop.2700),
Vadhoo (pop.1370)
Nearest uninhabited islands :Veraaviligillaa, Lonudhoo
Proposed Bed capacity :60 beds