COLOMBO, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Maldive government said on Monday that it has launched a 800-million-U.S. dollar tourism development project to attract more tourists into the island country.
The Maldive Embassy in Colombo said the Emboodhoo Lagoon Project was the largest tourism development to be conducted in the country aimed at promoting the Maldives as a multi-island integrated leisure and recreation destination.
The project will develop a total of nine islands, with the first phase seeing the development of three islands, and a core island township which brings a veritable wealth of world-class food and beverage, retail, entertainment, recreation, international standard yatch marina and leisure-lifestyle experiences to the Maldives.
The embassy said this will be the first of its kind to be introduced in the Maldives at an estimated cost of 331.5 million U.S. dollars.
Maldives Tourism Minister Moosa Zameer said the project shows the faith and trust investors have towards Maldives adding the country would always welcome mega development investments.
The first phase of Emboodhoo project would see the development of 1,300 rooms on three islands and the creation of over 5,000 job opportunities.
A cultural center will also be developed under the project. The first phase of the project along with township will be completed by mid 2018.
