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Maldives says 13 new resort openings set for 2020
Maldives will welcome 13 new resort openings in 2020, the island nation’s tourism minister Ali Waheed announced Tuesday.
At a ceremony held Tuesday evening to announce new islands allocated for resort development, Minister Waheed said 143 resorts were in operation when the new government took over in November 2018. That number has now increased to 154, he added.
“A total of 13 new resorts are set to be opened in the coming year,” the minister said, during the ceremony held at the main convention centre of Dharubaaruge in capital Male.
Maldives is set to achieve its target of welcoming 20 new resort openings this year.
Eleven new resorts came into operation in 2016, followed by at least 15 new resorts in 2017 and 20 new properties last year.
The latest official figures show that 152 resorts, 10 hotels, 579 guesthouses and 154 liveaboard vessels are in operation. These establishments have a capacity of 49,337 tourist beds.
Government had earlier said that a total of 132 tourism projects involving 140 islands are being carried out across the Maldives.
Over the past few years, dozens of uninhabited islands have been leased to local and foreign resort developers. Several international brands have entered into the market, increasing the number of resorts in operation to more than 150.
Singapore’s Park Hotel Group has opened its first resort in the Maldives, whilst major international hotel chains such as AccorHotels have entered the Maldives with five openings, including Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort, Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi, Mӧvenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives, Raffles Maldives Meradhoo Resort, and Pullman Maldives Maamutaa Resort. Brands like Hard Rock International, Capella Hotel Group, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Emaar Hospitality Group, Baglioni Hotels, Emerald Collection and Meliá Hotels International have announced their entry to the Maldives as well.
Existing international players are also upping their presence, with Marriott International launching Westin and JW Marriott in Maldives, Hilton Worldwide re-introducing its top-end luxury brand Waldorf Astoria, Aitken Spence introducing its Heritance brand, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts opening its fourth resort, Minor Hotel Group to introduce its AVANI brand, Onyx Hospitality Group to introduce its OZO brand with its second property in the island nation, and LUX* Hotels and Resorts opening its second resort in the Maldives. The Residence by Cenizaro has also opened its second Maldivian property, whilst Thai hospitality group Centara Hotels & Resorts has announced the development of its fifth resort in Maldives.
Leading local hotel groups, including Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts, Sun Siyam Resorts, and Crown and Champa Resorts, are also on an expansion drive.
Meanwhile, the first integrated tourism developments in the Maldives — Emboodhoo Lagoon project and Rah Falhu Huraa lagoon project — are underway, with the first phase of the Crossroads Maldives integrated destination at Emboodhoo Lagoon already open to visitors.
Along with the new resort openings come the challenge of increasing demand from budget travellers who choose guesthouses over luxury resorts that the Maldives is known for. The guesthouse sector has rapidly expanded with over 500 guesthouses in operation today.
Meanwhile, 29 uninhabited islands and land from several inhabited islands have been allocated for new tourism developments.
Maldives had in November welcomed the 1.5 millionth tourist of the year, reaching the destination’s target for tourist arrivals this year.
Maldives welcomed a record 1.4 million tourists in 2018. It was a 6.8 per cent increase from the 1,389,542 tourists that chose to holiday in the Maldives in 2017.
The new government aims to attract 2.5 million tourist arrivals per year by the end of its first five-year term in 2023.
To achieve this target, the government had added MVR 50 million (USD 3.23 million) to the annual marketing budget of the tourism ministry.
In the state budget for 2020, the government had allocated MVR 154.2 million (USD 9.98 million) for tourism promotion — up from the MVR 104.2 million (USD 6.7 million) in 2019, and MVR 34.73 million (USD 2.2 million) each in 2018 and 2017.
The government, which came to power in 2018, pledged to ramp up tourism promotion.
Reflecting the new government’s pledge, the state budget for 2019 includes MVR 104,200,000 (USD 6.7 million) for tourism promotion, up from MVR 34,733,333 (USD 2.2 million) in 2018 and 2017.
Summer Island Maldives has been recognised as one of the top travel destinations globally, having received the prestigious TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 2024. This accolade places the resort among the top 10% of hotels worldwide, based on exceptional traveller reviews and ratings collected over the past year.
Located just 45 minutes by speedboat or a short seaplane journey from Velana International Airport, Summer Island Maldives offers an idyllic barefoot beach retreat. The resort is known for its personalised service, commitment to sustainability, and relaxed luxury, consistently appealing to travellers from around the world.
Mariya Shareef, Chief Operations Officer of Kaimoo Travels and Hotel Services, expressed appreciation for the recognition, noting that the award reflects the dedication and passion of the entire team, who work diligently to deliver memorable experiences. She highlighted that the honour is especially meaningful as it is based on genuine guest feedback.
A popular choice for honeymooners and returning guests, the resort features two restaurants, three bars, and a variety of curated experiences, including private sandbank picnics and sunset sailboat cruises. Summer Island Maldives is also widely praised for its strong sustainability practices, such as eliminating single-use plastics, integrating renewable energy solutions, adopting eco-friendly mosquito control methods, and creating the world’s largest 3D-printed coral reef—an initiative recognised by the Guinness World Records.
The TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards celebrate excellence in hospitality, with winners selected based on consistently high ratings across key categories such as service, value, cleanliness, and location.
This recent recognition joins a growing list of accolades for Summer Island Maldives, including TUI’s Global Hotel Quality Award for 2024 and 2025, as well as the Leading Eco-Friendly Resort Award at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) in 2023.
Constance Moofushi in the Maldives has been recognised as one of Asia’s premier luxury destinations, earning the 11th spot in the Best of the Best Luxury Hotels in Asia category at the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2025. This accolade highlights the resort’s dedication to delivering authentic and unforgettable luxury experiences in the heart of the Indian Ocean.
Situated on a private island, Constance Moofushi combines barefoot chic with exceptional service, offering guests a unique blend of natural beauty and refined comfort. The recognition reflects not only the resort’s appeal but also the consistently high level of guest satisfaction that has become synonymous with the Constance brand.
Part of the esteemed Constance Hotels & Resorts portfolio, Constance Moofushi contributes to the group’s widespread acclaim, with all properties ranked among the Top 10% of Hotels Worldwide by Tripadvisor. These honours underscore the group’s unwavering commitment to quality across its locations in the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Rodrigues, and Madagascar.
The Travelers’ Choice Awards are especially meaningful as they are based entirely on genuine guest reviews and ratings from travellers around the globe. The recognition of Constance Moofushi stands as a testament to the resort’s ongoing pursuit of excellence and its embodiment of the Constance philosophy: ‘True by Nature.’
Ayada Maldives has been recognised as one of TripAdvisor’s Best of the Best Hotels in the 2025 Travellers’ Choice Awards. This luxury private island resort earned the distinction of being named Best of the Best in the Maldives and secured a spot among the top 25 hotels in the world. This prestigious accolade is awarded to less than 1% of TripAdvisor’s eight million global listings. Additionally, Ayada Maldives received top honours in the highly regarded ‘Treat Yourself’ category.
The Travellers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best by TripAdvisor celebrate the pinnacle of excellence in the travel industry, acknowledging properties that consistently provide exceptional guest experiences based on outstanding reviews and ratings collected over a 12-month period.
This latest recognition further solidifies Ayada Maldives’ reputation for authentic luxury, warm hospitality, and thoughtfully curated experiences. Located in the pristine Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, the resort offers guests a serene and immersive retreat, carefully designed to promote relaxation, connection, and rejuvenation.
With its spacious overwater and beachfront villas, award-winning spa, elevated dining options, and tranquil natural surroundings, Ayada Maldives continues to stand out as the ideal destination for travellers seeking indulgence and renewal in a tropical paradise.
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