Villingili (Addu Atoll)
Villingili | |
|---|---|
Holiday Island Resort | |
 Map of Addu Atoll, Maldives | |
  Villingili Location in Maldives | |
| Coordinates: 0°40′43″S 73°11′41″E / 0.67861°S 73.19472°E | |
| Country | Maldives |
| Administrative atoll | Addu Atoll |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 3 km (2 mi) |
| • Width | 0.8 km (0.5 mi) |
| Elevation | 5 m (17 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 0 |
| Time zone | UTC+05:00 (MST) |
Villingili is a resort island in Addu Atoll, Maldives.
In 1997, the government of the Maldives contracted the American firm Abonmarche to build a large resort and marina on the island to attract tourism.[1] In 2000 the government withdrew this contract, and finding no other bidders, awarded it to another firm called "Energy Tours" to build a smaller resort. Energy Tours defaulted on this contract.[1]
In 2005, Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom contracted Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, a Hong Kong–based company, to build the first luxury resort in Addu Atoll.[2] The resort was developed by Addu Investment Private Limited (70%) and the Maldivian Government (30%). The resort cost an estimated 150 million US dollars and opened in early 2009. Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa features a range of 132 villas including two Presidential Villas. The Villingili Shangri-La Resort closed indefinitely in 2020.[3][4] The Maldivian government has been aiming to reopen the resort.[5]
The island has the highest natural elevation in the Maldives, Mount Villingili. It stands at 5.1m (16.75 ft) above sea level, and is located on Villingili's golf course.
References
- ^ a b Rasheed, Ali (25 May 2005). "The Villingili Fiasco". Minivan News. Archived from the original on 27 May 2005.
- ^ "Gayoom Awards Villingili Resort to Brother-in-Law Without a Bid Process; Resort Owners Angry". Minivan News. 21 May 2005. Archived from the original on 25 May 2005.
- ^ "Notice". Shangri La. Archived from the original on 21 March 2025.
- ^ "Shangri-La closes Maldives resort 'indefinitely'". Maldives Insider. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ Osmanagic, Ameera (5 July 2025). "Aiming to declare Shangri-La reopening date within 2-3 months: Minister". The Edition. Retrieved 27 July 2025.