Tourism Ministry has geared up to initiate 14 projects to further develop tourism in the atolls.

Tourism Ministry said on Friday that islands and lagoons will be auctioned next week for tourism development project's fourth phase. The Ministry added that priority will be given to Bodu Thiladhunmathi in deciding the islands and lagoons for the project.

According to Tourism Ministry, the project will increase the traffic in the domestic airports as well as the atolls in the region.

Tourism Ministry published a list of atolls and islands that will be auctioned for the project:

  • HA. and HDh. Atoll - 3 projects in 3 islands
  • M. Atoll - 1 project in 1 island
  • Th. Atoll - 1 project in 2 islands
  • GA. Atoll - 2 projects in 2 islands
  • GDh. Atoll - 3 projects in 6 islands
  • K. Atoll - 1 project in 1 lagoon
  • F. Atoll - 2 projects in 2 lagoons
  • R. Atoll - 1 project in 1 island with lagoon

Tourism Ministry added that Boduthiladhumathi will be prioritised for the tourism project owing to the fact that the region would need 8,000 tourist beds for the Hanimaadhoo International Airport to become fully operational.