President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu says that developing tourism in the HDh. Atoll is a key priority area for his administration, pledging to rollout initiatives to help the atoll get rid of its “no-tourism” label.
President Muizzu, who is currently on a tour of HDh. Atoll, made the remarks during his stop in Naavaidhoo on Monday morning.
Addressing a gathering in Naavaidhoo, President Muizzu said that expanding tourism in HDh. Atoll and boosting local tourism in the atoll’s islands are a key priority area for his administration.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu visits HDh. Naavaidhoo on August 25, 2025. (Photo/President's Office)
“This is something that remains unaccomplished here in this atoll. No one has been able to facilitate tourism in this island,” he said.
President Muizzu said that his administration has been offering tourism investment opportunities with major concessions in atolls with no or few tourism businesses.
“We have announced around 10 locations from this atoll alone, including lagoons, parts of lagoons, and such. We have invited bids for open tendering and closed tendering,” he said.
President Muizzu said that a few investors have expressed interest in developing resorts in some of the locations.
He also shared an update on Naagoashi, an island in HDh. Atoll that was issued to the Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) for development as a resort nearly two decades back.
President Muizzu said that MTDC has now mobilized equipment in order to start the project after securing funding through the Bank of Maldives (BML).
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu addresses a gathering in HDh. Naavaidhoo on August 25, 2025. (Photo/President's Office)
“This is a years-long issue. Something that couldn’t be done. But we have now found ways to conduct this project at a swift pace,” he said.
He said that his administration is engaged in multiple initiatives to boost tourism in HDh. Atoll, and expressed confidence the initiatives will show results.
“We are working to help this atoll get rid of its “no-tourism” label and make it a place with a booming tourism industry,” he said.
Naagoashi was issued to MTDC to develop a 600-bed resort back in 2006. The project was contracted to a Russian contractor in 2007, before the contract was cancelled in 2016 with a progress rate of only 37 percent. In 2017, the Tourism Ministry repossessed the island from MTDC, but then returned it back in 2021, after which the project was awarded to a Dubai contractor. The contract was cancelled due to lack of progress in 2023.