News Desk
Guesthouses have driven the strongest surge in the Maldives’ tourism capacity over the past two years, marking a shift towards more community‑rooted, locally owned hospitality. According to new figures shared by Tourism and Environment Minister Tariq Ibrahim, guesthouses alone added 4,062 beds, the largest increase across all segments. Liveaboards followed with 1,554 beds, hotels with 708 beds, and homestays with 368 newly launched beds. In total, 7,195 beds have been added since late 2023 — growth driven by the Muizzu administration’s focused push to expand and diversify the tourism sector.
Minister Tariq, speaking at a press briefing at the President’s Office, said the expansion reflects the administration’s commitment to broad‑based tourism growth. He noted that more than 7,000 beds have been added since President Muizzu took office on 17 November, underscoring the government’s emphasis on diversifying the sector and strengthening local participation.
Additional details shared by the minister include:
- 43 new resort permits issued last year
- 280 guesthouse licences granted
- 122 dive centres approved
- 14 new hotels licensed
A major wave of resort openings is also on the horizon. Minister Tariq confirmed that seven new resorts are scheduled to open in 2026, bringing more than 1,000 additional beds into operation. He added that 168 islands and lagoons are currently under development as resort projects, with seven of them expected to be completed this year.
As guesthouses and liveaboards continue to register new beds throughout 2026, the country’s total tourism capacity is expected to rise even further.
The tourism expansion is unfolding alongside a broader national strategy to diversify the Maldivian economy. One of the flagship initiatives is Project Aila, a US$790 million sustainable township designated as a Special Economic Zone — the largest foreign‑investment venture launched under President Muizzu. The project includes luxury residences, an international‑standard health centre, a hospitality training institute, a marina, and modern agriculture and aquaculture facilities, with at least 60% of its energy sourced from renewables. Investors have praised the administration’s “far‑sighted leadership” and transparent approval process, noting that the Maldives now offers a more confident environment for major long‑term investments.
The government has also introduced a residency‑by‑investment programme, designed to attract high‑net‑worth individuals and long‑term investors, a move that complements the SEZ strategy and broadens the country’s revenue base. Together, these initiatives signal a shift towards a more resilient, multi‑pillar economy.
The government has set an ambitious target of increasing total tourism revenue to US$6 billion, and Minister Tariq emphasised that the current trajectory, driven by both high‑end resort development and the rapid expansion of guesthouses, positions the Maldives strongly to meet that goal.
The Muizzu administration has consistently framed tourism diversification as essential to long‑term resilience. The surge in guesthouse and homestay capacity, in particular, strengthens local island economies and broadens the tourism map beyond traditional resort zones.
