35 New Islands to be developed over the next two to five years period
The additional 35 islands proposed for tourism is expected to add the much needed 5000 to 7000 beds over the next two to five year period, which will facilitate sustainable expansion of the Maldivian tourism industry.
While demand for Maldives as a tourist destination has increased steadily, the bed-capacity in the tourist resorts has increased from 16, 318 in 2001 to 16,858 in 2004 which amounts to only 3.3% growth. During the same period the tourist arrivals have increased by 33.6 %. For sustainable growth of the industry, the Second Tourism Master Plan had proposed the development of 20,500 beds by 2005. However, the number of beds available in 87 resorts amounts to 16, 858, leading to a shortage of 3642 beds.
The recently bid 11 new resorts consist of 1600 beds and, therefore, does not adequately address the bed-capacity shortfall. Even with the addition of these 11 resorts, there is a bed-capacity shortage of 2042 beds, leading to continue the planned expansion of the tourism industry. The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) forecasts growth of the Asia Pacific tourism over the next three years, and predicts that arrivals to Maldives will likely increase by 6.8% in 2006 and 2007.
Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) and several international tour operators have urged the Government the need to increase medium-priced beds for the charter market. MATI and others have raised concern that an increasing number of resorts are becoming up-market facilities, upsetting the balance required in the product profile of the destination for sustainable development.
In offering 35 new resort/hotel facilities, the Government would undertake the following:
While demand for Maldives as a tourist destination has increased steadily, the bed-capacity in the tourist resorts has increased from 16, 318 in 2001 to 16,858 in 2004 which amounts to only 3.3% growth. During the same period the tourist arrivals have increased by 33.6 %. For sustainable growth of the industry, the Second Tourism Master Plan had proposed the development of 20,500 beds by 2005. However, the number of beds available in 87 resorts amounts to 16, 858, leading to a shortage of 3642 beds.
The recently bid 11 new resorts consist of 1600 beds and, therefore, does not adequately address the bed-capacity shortfall. Even with the addition of these 11 resorts, there is a bed-capacity shortage of 2042 beds, leading to continue the planned expansion of the tourism industry. The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) forecasts growth of the Asia Pacific tourism over the next three years, and predicts that arrivals to Maldives will likely increase by 6.8% in 2006 and 2007.
Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) and several international tour operators have urged the Government the need to increase medium-priced beds for the charter market. MATI and others have raised concern that an increasing number of resorts are becoming up-market facilities, upsetting the balance required in the product profile of the destination for sustainable development.
In offering 35 new resort/hotel facilities, the Government would undertake the following:
- Provide a mix of medium size (100 - 200bed) resorts and small luxury resorts (below 50 beds)
- Target sufficient number of medium size resorts for medium priced charter markets
- Provide the opportunity for new resorts to expand from a minimum number of beds to a maximum over a five year period. Example, a resort may expand from 100 beds to 200 beds over a five year period. This would allow the resorts to adjust capacity to demand.
Source: Ministry of Tourism
posted by Masood at
7:49 AM
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