President inspects preparations for reopening of Shangri-La resort

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu yesterday inspected the progress of preparations to reopen the Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa in Addu, which has remained closed since the COVID-19 pandemic. The resort is scheduled to reopen before the end of this year.

The President visited the resort yesterday afternoon as part of his trip to Addu City to assess opportunities for boosting tourism and expanding economic activities in the area, according to the President's Office.

The operator of the resort, Addu Investments, agreed to reopen the Shangri-La Villingili Resort before the end of this year following discussions with the government.

Last month, Tourism Minister Ibrahim Thoriq stated that he had met with the head of the Shangri-La Group and Asset Management, along with the resort's General Manager, to discuss the ongoing preparations for the reopening, which is targeted for December 25th.

Due to the prolonged closure, the resort has suffered significant deterioration. The government previously indicated that the necessary refurbishment to bring Shangri-La back into operation would cost around USD 25 million.

The government has been working to reopen the resort since its closure in 2021. As an incentive to accelerate the reopening, the previous administration agreed to waive the government's 30 percent share in the operating company.

When the resort first opened, it was renowned as a destination for high-net-worth tourists. During its operation, Shangri-La significantly boosted Addu's economy, leading to a noticeable increase in private jet traffic to Addu.

The resort, located about a five-minute speedboat ride from Addu Gan International Airport, employed over 500 staff before its closure. The government expects the reopening to provide a significant boost to Addu's economy.