Addu MPs’ Efforts and Legal Reforms Help Pave Way for Shangri-La Reopening
Feydhoo Uthuru MP Ismail Nizar joined fellow Addu City MPs in pushing for a solution to the prolonged closure of Shangri-La Villingili Resort, an issue that had affected employment, tourism and the wider economy of Addu City for years.
Shangri-La Villingili, once one of Addu City's major tourism properties and employers, remained closed for around five years following the COVID-19 pandemic. Its prolonged closure became a significant concern for residents, particularly due to the loss of employment opportunities and economic activity.
On 4 July 2024, MP Ismail Nizar and other MPs representing Addu City participated in discussions with the Ministry of Tourism and Shangri-La management regarding the resort's future.
The meeting resulted in the establishment of a special task force to work towards reopening the resort. The discussions formed part of continued efforts by Addu representatives to find a solution and restore one of the city's most important tourism assets.
The Government subsequently continued engagement with Shangri-La while also examining weaknesses in the existing legal framework that made it difficult to address tourism properties remaining closed for prolonged periods.
A significant development came with the 15th Amendment to the Maldives Tourism Act, passed by Parliament and ratified by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on 19 March 2025.
The amendment introduced specific provisions governing the closure and redevelopment of tourism establishments. It strengthened the Government's ability to regulate how long tourism properties may remain closed and provided mechanisms for action where a property fails to resume operations within an approved period.
The changes addressed an important legal gap highlighted by cases such as Shangri-La, where a valuable tourism property had remained non-operational for years.
Following continued engagement, legal reforms and refurbishment works, progress towards reopening accelerated during 2025.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu visited Shangri-La Villingili in November 2025 and was briefed on preparations to bring the property back into operation.
After approximately five years of closure, Shangri-La Villingili welcomed its first guest on 30 December 2025, marking the beginning of its reopening.
For MP Ismail Nizar and other Addu representatives who had continued to raise the issue, the reopening represented an important step towards restoring employment opportunities, strengthening Addu's tourism sector and bringing a major economic asset back into productive use.
While the resort's return has been progressive rather than an immediate return to full capacity, its reopening marks an important milestone for Addu City and demonstrates the impact of sustained engagement, parliamentary action and necessary reforms to the country's tourism laws.
On 4 July 2024, MP Ismail Nizar and other MPs representing Addu City participated in discussions with the Ministry of Tourism and Shangri-La management regarding the resort's future.
The meeting resulted in the establishment of a special task force to work towards reopening the resort. The discussions formed part of continued efforts by Addu representatives to find a solution and restore one of the city's most important tourism assets.
The Government subsequently continued engagement with Shangri-La while also examining weaknesses in the existing legal framework that made it difficult to address tourism properties remaining closed for prolonged periods.
A significant development came with the 15th Amendment to the Maldives Tourism Act, passed by Parliament and ratified by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on 19 March 2025.
The amendment introduced specific provisions governing the closure and redevelopment of tourism establishments. It strengthened the Government's ability to regulate how long tourism properties may remain closed and provided mechanisms for action where a property fails to resume operations within an approved period.
The changes addressed an important legal gap highlighted by cases such as Shangri-La, where a valuable tourism property had remained non-operational for years.
Following continued engagement, legal reforms and refurbishment works, progress towards reopening accelerated during 2025.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu visited Shangri-La Villingili in November 2025 and was briefed on preparations to bring the property back into operation.
After approximately five years of closure, Shangri-La Villingili welcomed its first guest on 30 December 2025, marking the beginning of its reopening.
For MP Ismail Nizar and other Addu representatives who had continued to raise the issue, the reopening represented an important step towards restoring employment opportunities, strengthening Addu's tourism sector and bringing a major economic asset back into productive use.
While the resort's return has been progressive rather than an immediate return to full capacity, its reopening marks an important milestone for Addu City and demonstrates the impact of sustained engagement, parliamentary action and necessary reforms to the country's tourism laws.
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