Shangri-La Villingili Resort Operations to Expand by Mid-July, Says Tourism Minister

Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has said that operations at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort will be expanded by mid-July this year.

Speaking in Parliament while responding to a question from Hithadhoo MP Ahmed Azaan Marzooq, the Minister said the resort is currently operating on a limited scale, with plans underway to significantly scale up operations.

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He said the ministry is in discussions with the operator to facilitate the expansion.

“A fairly large operation is going to happen in the middle of next month,” he said.

The resort, which first opened in 2009, was shut during the COVID-19 pandemic after an earlier suspension of operations. It resumed operations last year following more than five years of closure and has since begun welcoming guests at a limited capacity.

The Villingili resort, located in Addu and comprising 132 villas, has played a significant role in the region’s tourism economy. Reopening efforts began under the previous administration but were delayed due to various challenges.

The current administration later included the reopening and expansion of the property among its electoral pledges, following discussions with Shangri-La’s management.