Maafushi Hotel to be built despite Finance Minister’s warnings

The Maldives Hajj Corporation plans to move forward with building a city hotel in Maafushi, despite Finance Minister Moosa Zameer’s wariness regarding the corporation’s investment in the guesthouse business.

The hotel initiative will be executed by Maafushi Islamic Tourism Pvt Ltd (MIT), a branch of the Hajj Corporation.

The company has made the hotel construction contract available to both local and international firms ready to fund the project independently. Those interested must register with the Hajj Corporation by next Wednesday, submitting a non-refundable payment of MVR 30,000 or USD 2,000. The auction will take place on September 11.

The Hajj Corporation had first declared its plan to construct a hotel in Maafushi last year. Finance Minister Zameer issued a caution concerning the venture during a parliamentary meeting.

Maldives Hajj Corporation's Managing Director Mohamed Shakeel remarked then that the corporation would follow the ministry's guidance if explicit recommendations against venturing into the tourism sector were offered.

Maafushi is renowned as a well-developed tourism island.