Central Hithadhoo MP Ahmed Azaan Marzooq has urged the government to reverse its decision to convert the Hankede Integrated Tourism Project in Addu City into a halal tourism development.
Azaan, a ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) lawmaker representing Addu’s Central Hithadhoo constituency, expressed his concerns in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying the decision was made without consulting relevant stakeholders and risks eroding investor confidence.
“The project had reached an advanced stage… Funds have already been arranged, and partial payments have been made to the contractor,” Azaan said.
The Hankede project, initially launched under the previous administration as an integrated tourism development, was to be funded by a US$142.9 million loan from the Bank of China. It was contracted to China National Electrical Engineering Company (CNEC).
Azaan warned that Addu City, which remains underdeveloped in the tourism sector, faces numerous investment challenges. Abrupt policy shifts without consultation, he said, will undermine efforts to market the city as a viable destination.
President Muizzu on Friday announced plans to include Hankede in its wider halal tourism strategy, which aims to develop six islands as Muslim-friendly destinations. It is unclear whether a new investor has been brought in for the revised project or if the original contract still remains in place.
The sudden change in the project’s direction has drawn criticism from opposition figures, including opposition leader and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, who previously led the Hankede project as Economic Minister. He accused the government of deliberately stalling the project to prevent Addu City from achieving economic self-sufficiency.