Islands placed on bid on April 3rd, 2006

1. H.A . Manafaru 2. H.Dh. Kudamuraidhoo 3. N. Kudafunafaru 4. Th. Maléfushi 5. G.Dh. Vatavarreha 6. Sh. Vagaru 7. R. Lundhufushi 8. G.A. Meradhoo 9. G.A. Munandhuva 10.G.Dh. Gazeera

10 more islands will be placed on bid in June, 2006. The Government of plans to release 35 new islands for tourist resort development, consisting of 20 islands to be placed on bid and 15 islands to be awarded to a proposed public company for tourism development.

This pamphlet contains topographical views and salient information on 10 of these islands, placed on bid on April 3rd, 2006.

The bidding of these islands is based on the need to meet current and projected bed-capacity needs in the Maldives. The total bed-capacity of the 35 new islands, together with the islands awarded for resort development in 2005, is expected to add 7000 new beds over the next five years.

This round of bidding includes two types: lease-Rent Controlled Bids and lease-Rent Open Bids, which are explained later.

Interested parties wishing to bid are required to purchase a bid document. A complete set of bidding documents may be purchased on submission of an application form to the Ministry. The application form is available from the Ministry and also downloadable from the website of the Ministry (www.maldivestourism.gov.mv). Address and contact details of the Ministry can be found at the back cover.

A sample bid document is also available for downloading at www.maldivestourism.gov.mv. With a range of 35 new islands due to be released for tourism development in 2006, we anticipate still more exiting developments. However, a word of well meaning advice- the destination will need to be careful of pricing itself out of the market by focusing purely on five star deluxe properties, as there is high demand for good three and four star resorts, and it is vital to maintain extra capacity in this critical middle segment of the market in order to keep volumes up.

(Kuoni, Longhual Report 2006, p.10).

In this type of bids, the highest rent that can be proposed per bed per year is fixed. This is meant to facilitate medium-priced resorts to enter the market over the next one to two years. Controlling the lease-rent at a reasonable level, is meant to help lighten the burden of raising investment finance and ensure smooth completion of the project. The total lease period is 25 years and the rent after the tenth year will be determined based on the prevailing average lease rent rate in the Maldives tourism THILADHUNMATHEE UTHURUBURI (Haa Alifu Atoll) An oval shaped island with lush green vegetation surrounded by white sandy beaches in a crystal clear lagoon.

Manafaru Approximate area of the island: 93,000 sqm. Distance from closest airport: 65 km.

Nearest inhabited islands: Huvarafushi (pop. 2852), Ihavandhoo (pop. 2450)

Nearest uninhabited islands: Medhafushi, Govvaafushi

Proposed Bed capacity: 100 beds Kudamuraidhoo A charming island of a unique shape, with a striking beach and a natural anchorage within a huge lagoon.

Approximate area of the island: 225,000 sqm.

THILADHUNMATHEE Distance from closest airport: 33 km. DHEKUNUBURI (Haa ) Nearest inhabited islands: Nellaidhoo (pop. 1000), Kurin'bee (pop. 668), (pop. 7500)

Nearest uninhabited islands : Kudanaagoshi, Bodunaagoshi, Muiri

Proposed Bed capacity: 250 beds Kudafunafaru A densely vegetated crescent shaped island, surrounded by a clear lagoon with an extensive beach line around the island.

Approximate area of the island: 80,000 sqm.

MILADHUNMADULU Distance from closest airport: 85 km. DHEKUNUBURI () Nearest inhabited islands: (pop. 663), Kendhikulhudhoo (pop. 1500)

Nearest uninhabited islands : Maafunafaru. Kuredhivaru, Dheefram

Proposed Bed capacity: 100 beds An oval shaped island belonging to a chain of islands. A unique formation in a huge lagoon covering the south eastern side of the atoll. Male'fushi Approximate area of the island: 79,000 sqm.

KOLHUMADULU (Thaa Atoll) Distance from closest airport: 75 km.

Nearest inhabited islands: (pop. 1816), Dhiyamigili (pop. 750)

Nearest uninhabited islands : Bodufinolhu, Lhavaddoo

Proposed Bed capacity: 100 beds HUVADHU ATHOLHU DHEKUNUBURI () A uniquely positioned island with a Kulhi (mangrove) and a deep lagoon caving into the reef.

Approximate area of the island: 122,000 sqm.

Vatavarreha Distance from closest airport: 45 km.

Nearest inhabited islands: (pop. 1384), Fares-Maathodaa (pop. 1700)

Nearest uninhabited islands: Kalharehaa, Laihaa, Boduhutta

Proposed Bed capacity: 150 beds In this type of bids, the islands will be awarded to the bidder who proposes the highest rentfor a 10 year period. These b i d s are targeted at islands with smaller bed-capacity and is meant to provide the opportunity for bidders who may want to win a price competitive bid and develop innovative and luxury products. The total lease period is 25 years and the rent after the tenth year will be determined based on the prevailing average lease rent rate in the Maldives tourism sector.

PAGE 8 MILADHUNMADULU UTHURUBURI () A small crescent shaped island with a white sandy beach and a beautiful circular lagoon hemmed by a prominent house reef.

Vagaru Approximate area of the island: 69,000 sqm.

Distance from closest airport: 75 km.

Nearest inhabited islands: Funadhoo (pop. 1500), Firubaidhoo (pop. 620)

Nearest uninhabited islands : Kambaalifaru, Eriyadhoo, Ekasdhoo

Proposed Bed capacity: 70 beds A small island with an appealing shape. The island boasts of a beautiful white Lundhufushi sandy beach and a reef formation that houses a deep blue lagoon.

Approximate area of the island: 40,000 sqm. MAALHOSMADULU UTHURUBURI () Distance from closest airport: 160 km.

Nearest inhabited islands: (pop. 1312), (pop. 1100)

Nearest uninhabited islands : Arilundhu, Madivaafaru

Proposed Bed capacity: 40 beds HUVADHU ATHOLHU UTHURUBURI (Gaafu Alifu Atoll) A tear-drop! White sandy beach all around, with dense vegetation and lovely palm trees.

Approximate area of the island: 45,000 sqm.

Meradhoo Distance from closest airport: 12.5 km.

Nearest inhabited islands: (pop. 6200), (pop. 1014)

Nearest uninhabited islands : Havoddaa, Havodigalaa, Minimessaa

Proposed Bed capacity: 44 beds HUVADHU ATHOLHU UTHURUBURI (Gaafu Alifu Atoll) A roundish island in a square-shaped lagoon with a natural entrance. Uninhabited islands scattered close by. Munandhuva Approximate area of the island: 48,000 sqm.

Distance from closest airport: 58 km.

Nearest inhabited islands: (pop. 1700), (pop. 900)

Nearest uninhabited islands: Vodamulaa, Mahadhdhoo

Proposed Bed capacity: 48 beds HUVADHU ATHOLHU DHEKUNUBURI (Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll) An island of an atypical shape. Lush green vegetation with a good beach. Situated in the midst of a vast reef. Deep lagoon with scattered reef patches.

Gazeera Approximate area of the island: 45,000 sqm.

Distance from closest airport: 50 km.

Nearest inhabited island: (pop. 2708), Vaadhoo (pop. 1400)

Nearest uninhabited islands : Faanahuttaa, Magudhdhuvaa

Proposed Bed capacity: 44 beds Tourist arrivals to the Maldives have been showing a promising growth with a total of 113,073 recorded visitors for the first two months of 2006. Based on the current demand forecasts, the arrivals to the Maldives this year would break the record arrivals of 616,716 tourists registered in 2004. With 6.5% growth forecast for 2006 (PATA, 2005) and the new resort developments planned, the Maldives tourism industry is expected to maintain a sound forward pace in the coming years.

Tourist arrivals to the Maldives for January and February 2006 indicate significant changes in the market share of traditional markets. Currently the leading market is Italy (24.5%); last year's market leader United Kingdom is in the second place (15.8%); third most significant market is France (12.2%). The increased growth of arrivals from France this year has pushed the 1990's market leader Germany to fourth place with 11% of the market share. In the fifth place are Japan and Switzerland, neck to neck, both with a market share of 4.6%.

Even though the world has witnessed a number of upheavals, "the tourism sector has gained substantially in resilience over the past years” - UNWTO Secretary-General, Francesco Frangialli.

As new developments often lead to further product diversification, opening of the proposed new resorts would enable the Maldives to be more competitive.

PAGE 14 Manafaru THILADHUNMATHEE UTHURUBURI (Haa Alifu Atoll)

THILADHUNMATHEE Kudamuraidhoo DHEKUNUBURI () MILADHUNMADULU UTHURUBURI (Shaviyani Atoll) Vagaru MILADHUNMADULU DHEKUNUBURI MAALHOSMADULU (Noonu Atoll) UTHURUBURI (Raa Atoll) Kudafunafaru Lundhufushi

andu FAADHIPPOLHU K

Hani ()

MAALHOSMADULU DHEKUNUBURI () A complete set of bidding

Gaafaru K andu MALE’ ATHOLHU documents may be () purchased on submission of AIRPORT ARI ATHOLHU MALE’ UTHURUBURI Vaadhoo K andu an application form to the (North ) Ministry. ARI ATHOLHU K andu DHEKUNUBURI FELIDHU ATHOLHU (South Ari Atoll) ()

Ariadhoo The application form is K andu

NILANDHE ATHOLHU Vattaru K andu UTHURUBURI available from the Ministry () MULAKATHOLHU Dheburideytherey Kandu () and also downloadable from NILANDHE ATHOLHU DHEKUNUBURI the Ministry website. (Dhaalu Atoll) K andu

Maléfushi A sample bid document is (Thaa Atoll)

Veymandoo Kandu HADHDHUMMATHI ATOLL also available for download () at the Ministry website.

One and Half Degree Channel

Huvadhoo Kandu

HUVADHU ATHOLHU UTHURUBURI (Gaafu Alifu Atoll) Meradhoo Munandhoo

HUVADHU ATHOLHU DHEKUNUBURI Gazeeraa (Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll) Vatavarrehaa Equatorial Channel Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation FOAHMULAH 1st Floor, Ghazee Building () Ameer Ahmed Magu ADDU ATHOLHU (Seenu Atoll) Tel: (960) 3323224, Fax: (960) 3322512 E-mail: [email protected] MAP NOT TO SCALE www.maldivestourism.gov.mv