The Ministry of Tourism has announced the decision to open bids for new resort development projects.

The ministry revealed that they will be inviting bids for three new resort projects with a “special” focus on the north of Maldives, in the coming week.

As such, the ministry revealed that the focus on Thiladhunmathi coincides with the project to redevelop Hanimaadhoo International Airport, inaugurated by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih alongside India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on January 18.

The ministry noted that the Hanimaadhoo International Airport redevelopment project will pave the path for massive economic progress in the region, with which 8,000 more tourist beds will be needed in the coming years for the airport to function smoothly without any disruptions or issues.

The tourism ministry highlighted that the new projects underway include three island projects in Haa Alif atoll and Haa Dhaal atoll, one island project in Meemu atoll, one project with two islands of Thaa atoll, two projects of two islands in Gaaf Alif atoll, three projects of six islands in Gaaf Dhaal atoll, one plot of lagoon project from Kaafu atoll, two projects of plots of lagoon in Faafu atoll and one project of one island with a lagoon plot from Raa atoll.

The Hanimaadhoo Airport development project was handed over to India's JMC Projects on September 25 last year and it was priced at USD 136.6 million.

The development project will be carried out from the USD 800 million line of credit scheme provided by the government of India.

Under the project, the existing 1.8-kilometer runway of the airport will be expanded to 2.24-kilometer. The project also includes construction of two taxiways that are 164 meters long, 34 meters wide, and 5.5 meters on either side, a 10,230-square meter building including land and seaside connectivity and passenger facilities, an apron measuring approximately 58,000 square meters as well as the establishment of a passenger terminal suitable for the operations of code aircraft.

With the development, Hanimaadhoo International Airport will be able to welcome Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircrafts.

The Hanimaadhoo International Airport development project is a presidential pledge of President Solih.

According to Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail, the development project is anticipated to be completed within 2024.