Maldives Integrated Tourism Development Corporation (MITDC) has awarded three plots from the integrated guesthouse island project of Baresdhoo.
At an information session held at Hotel Jen in capital Male Sunday morning, a 10,000 sqft plot was awarded to renowned local businessman Jaufar ‘Jausa Jaufar’ Esa Adam. Two 5,000 sqft plots were awarded to Ali Adnan Jaleel and Mohamed Wafir.
According to MITDC, the three parties received 100 percent marks from bid evaluation.
Speaking at the Q&A session, MITDC Managing Director Mohamed Shahid said the project has been well-received by investors. Many proposals have been received so far, he added.
“Construction will begin next month with the mosque, followed by other structures,” Shahid said.
MITDC has earlier opened bidding for the project.
A 35-room guesthouse is to be leased for USD 10,000 per month, while the monthly rent for a 60-room guesthouse is set at USD 18,000. Each of the two 100-bed hotels are to be rented out for USD 45,000 per month.
State tourism promotion company Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has earlier announced the sale of 16 land plots from Baresdhoo, which is the first ever integrated guesthouse development in the Maldives.
However, MITDC recently took over the project from MMPRC and changed it to a rental business model.
According to MITDC, the 75-hectare island of Baresdhoo in Laamu atoll will have restaurants, cafes, bars, a spa, a theme park, a theatre, a golf course, a botanical garden and a dive centre to support the guesthouses and hotels. Construction will begin this year and will be completed within 18 months, it said.
MMPRC has earlier built the island’s harbour and joined a small nearby island to Baresdhoo. A local company has also been contracted to build the road network of the island.
Government’s foray into guesthouse business comes amid a significant increase in the number of guesthouses across the archipelago. Some 400 guesthouses have started operations over the past five years as the number of travellers that choose to stay in guesthouses is on the rise.