HDh. Keylakunu has been designated as an eco-tourism island.

Speaking at a press conference held at the President's Office today, Principal Secretary to the President on Public Policy Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim said that the government took the decision at a cabinet meeting held today in consultation with the Visitor Economy Council held last week.

Nazim said that in the meeting, it was decided to conduct a study in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders to develop the island so that it does not harm natural beauty and marine life. He added that a visitors' centre will be set up so that visitors can get a full idea of the island's history, the historical locations of the island and the life around the island.

He said the cabinet also decided to see if there was a way to construct floating villas without damaging the coral reef.

Keylakunu, which has 80 hectares of land mass, has a large number of four varieties of trees that grow in mangroves mangroves. The once inhabited island still shows signs of the past lives of the residents who lived there.

It is said that the island was destroyed during a rainy spell on December 8, 1821, which is the date on which the local scriptures show that the incident took place.

The island was added to the list of islands that were allocated tourism during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's administration, but considering the concerns raised, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih came to power and declared the island and its reefs as protected areas.