Singapore-based developer Pontiac Land Group has kicked off a major integrated tourism development project in Maldives.
The project, which was inaugurated on Monday by officials from the company and the Maldives tourism ministry, involves developing the Rah Falhu lagoon, accessible by a 45-minute boat ride from capital Male, as an integrated resort.
An official from Pontiac later told local media that the integrated tourism development will consist of three luxury resorts managed by international hotel brands, a yacht marina and a tourism academy. World renowned architects and consultants from Japan and Brazil have been assigned in order to ensure that Rah Falhu is a standard-setting, state-of-the-art integrated development in the Maldives, he said.
According to the company, the marina to be built as part of the USD 500 million project will accommodate 15-20 super yachts at a time. The tourism academy will be run in collaboration with the tourism ministry and other relevant authorities, and will host literary festivals amongst others, it added.
“World class staff facilities, including a football ground will also be built,” the company official said.
Reclamation of Rah Falhu lagoon has already started. Dredging International is set to complete the reclamation works in about a month with the integrated development fully operational by 2019.
Pontiac Land Group, owned by the famous Kwee Family, is one of the biggest real estate development and management companies in Singapore. The Group owns several luxury hotels in Singapore, including Ritz-Carlton Millenia, the Conrad Centennial Singapore and The Capella Singapore, as well as office blocks, the Millenia Tower and the Centennial Tower.
This is the second integrated tourism development in the Maldives.
Thailand-based Singha Estate, a subsidiary of well-known Asian brewery Boon Rawd Brewery, has leased Emboodhoo Falhu, which is one of the largest lagoons in the Maldives, and has announced plans to develop the entire area into the largest integrated resort in Indian Ocean. First phase of the development of Emboodhoo Falhu is set to open in July 2018 under the management of world-renowned Hard Rock International Hotel Group.
Photos: Avas Online