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On July 28, 2008, government announced the development of H.Dh Nolhivaranfaru training resort by reclamation of the island’s reef and mangrove area which made up 81.44 hectares of land. The announcement gave hope to a number of locals who were interested in making a career in the tourism and hospitality sector. It created a vision in many, laying the foundation to attract tourism opportunities to the atoll.
Since then the country has seen the rise and fall of countless presidencies. With each new administration, the atoll of H.Dh awaits with renewed hope and patience. While Maldives is celebrating half a century of tourism, many admits and advocates for the importance of establishing a training center for the blue and white-collar workers of the tourism industry. However, with an entire decade gone since the initial announcement of developing a training center, till date not much structural work has been done.
“Nolhivaranfaru Training Resort Development Underway” often makes the headline whenever there is an imminent election. On April 2016, Nolhivaranfaru Council quoted the contractors, stating work is progressing swiftly. However, the construction work has come to a standstill and has yet to recommence in twelve long years.
In an informal visit to Nolhivaranfaru on April 1, 2019, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih stated that the island is ideal for the development of local tourism and that work needs to be done to make Nolhivaranfaru a robust site for tourism activities.
Upon request of the island’s council, President Solih paid a call on the council, and discussed the prospects of enacting local tourism in the area. In this meeting, the council expressed that in 2008 the state contracted land to Nalaveli Maldives to be developed as a resort training center, however, despite the many years that passed work done on the project was negligible. The council urged the state to terminate the current agreement with Nalaveli and contract it to an eligible party. In addition, they also stated that many investors have expressed their interest to develop hotels or resorts with over 200 bed capacity in the administrative region of H.Dh.
H.Dh Atoll Council confirms that at the moment no work is being done towards the development of this project. In twelve years the only advancement observed was the construction of warehouses in the area.
Government made the decision to develop a tourism training center in Nolhivaranfaru because of the generous land the island possesses. In addition, the island is also a part of the state’s regional development project.
With 14 hectares of land from the south of the island, and the reclamation of 81.44 hectares of land from the island’s reef and mangrove area, a total of 95.44 hectares were designated for the development of the training resort.
The state contracted the project to Nalaveli Maldives in 2008.
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