17 December 2009

How many resorts in the Maldives?

Numbers get confusing when we're talking Maldives resorts. And that's before guest houses start. I'm supposed to be on top of it here but it's awfully tricky to keeping an accurate tab on what is open, temporarily closed, not yet open and horribly stuck.

It is something of a relief to me to find out that even the authorities are a bit uncertain. The recent stream of resorts offered up for bidding, in batches of ten usually, started to include unusual offers like 'build a regional airport and we'll give you space on the island or a neighbouring island to build yourself a resort, or marina, or hotel'. There were also City Hotels to bid for, to be built on inhabited islands. (The anomaly of 'picnic islands' - that turn into mini resorts with boats or spa - has, I think, seen its day).

The new government has let it be known that other ways to get a resort island are up for grabs too, if you can input into national requirements - such as energy generation, health development or population movement, for example.

As recently as May this year the Minister of Tourism, Dr. Ahmad Ali Sawad, announced that the Maldives was seeking to attract "investors to develop 60 of its exotic islands in projects worth $3 billion", to be developed within the next few years. The details were few but seemed to suggest smaller, cheaper resorts or hotels that may or may not be on inhabited islands and would move into new areas like eco tourism and cultural tourism (staying with or learning from local people).

I don't think any of those 60 have been moved forward yet. However I am sure there are interested groups doing some sums and negotiations in the background. It is fresh thinking and almost certainly the right way to go. Although developers of expensive resorts won't have felt so positive towards it.

Because competition and, indeed, a shift in the market altogether, is the last thing expensive resort developers want to hear about right now. Apart, that is, from the sound of the government coming after them with a stick and financial penalties.

On 8 December the Maldives cabinet decided on measures to be taken on the 64 islands leased for resort development that were behind schedule. Contracts will be cancelled with the 39 islands where no work has yet begun. The other 25, where some work has taken place, will have to come up with proposals and present them to a new and impatient government.

Messy. But this economic downturn is messing around with most of us. I'll try to build a few accurate lists but in the meantime, let me pass on the news of the latest new resort: Holiday Inn Resort.

This is a re-opening of Kandooma. Positioned in the middle market, as per the trend, the owners are promoting its hi tech amenities, diving and surfing. Good idea and good luck. I've always bracketed Kandooma with Tari Village / Dhonveli as distinctly unblessed with natural assets but valuable for their surfing, diving and, formerly, very relaxed way of life.