Investment Opportunities in Maafushi Maldives (Kaafu Atoll)

By: Mohamed Sanih

The Island of Maafushi in the Maldives has the highest number of guesthouses and hotels in the atoll in part due to the booming local tourism industry. Maafushi is located about 26 kilometers to the capital city of Male. Moving from the Maldives International Airport to the Island of Maafushi takes 25 minutes. When you get to the island, you are treated to the best of Maldivian lifestyle with a chance to explore the beautiful island.

The Island of Maafushi is an excellent holiday destination for the family, newly-wed or solo tourist. Its mesmerizing white sandy beaches and crystal clear lagoons bordered by palm trees is a dream come true for any traveler. The island is not crowded, and you get to enjoy the hospitality of the local community.

An elected Island Council administers the island of Maafushi and is made up of five Councilors and headed by a President of the Council. The council reports to the Local Government Authority.

In 2010, it became lawful for local islanders to build a guesthouse in Maafushi to earn foreign currency from the booming tourism industry. It should be noted that majority of the population still make a living from fishing. The new government regulation encouraged the locals to invest in Maafushi’s tourism accommodation sector. In 2010, the first guesthouse in Maafushi opened for business, and much more have followed ever since. The new wave of investments in guesthouses and hotels has led to an increase in the population of Maafushi, and the island is now home to 2,692 people, according to the most recent census carried out in 2014. Many locals now invest in Maafushi to earn foreign currencies from tourists visiting the island. 

Locals own most of the guesthouses on the island, but investors from the capital and other places are also building guesthouses in Maafushi. If you want to build a guesthouse in Maafushi, you need to contact the Island Council and the Local Government Authority for land acquisition and other necessary documentation. Building a guesthouse or hotel is a great way to invest in Maafushi as the island is a hot spot for many tourists. Apart from tourists that visit the island, Maafushi also attracts a considerable number of tourists from nearby resort islands who are island hopping. In Maafushi, they can find many shops offering souvenirs and mementoes to take back home.
 

The Maldivians are Muslims, and they have a diverse and rich culture. As a rule, tourists are expected to dress modestly in line with the religious and cultural values of the community. However, the government of Maldives in collaboration with the Island Council has made provisions at the private beach for people to take sunbaths in their bikinis. The place is secluded and can be used by every tourist on the island.

Maafushi has the highest number of guesthouses and guest beds of all the local inhabited islands in the Maldives. Some of the best hotels in Maafushi include the Kaani Beach Hotel located near the Maafushi Mosque and the Maafushi Harbor, the Crystal Sands Beach Hotel, Arena Beach Hotel, Kaani Grand Hotel, Seven Corals, Velana Beach, and the Sunrise Beach and Spa.

Many of the guesthouses in Maafushi offer tourists excursions such as fishing, water sports, snorkeling as well as picnic island excursions. The island of Maafushi also has three dive centers where tourists can enjoy a satisfying dip in the clear waters of the island. Everything tourists need is on Maafushi Maldives. Whether you want beach-side accommodation, bespoke restaurants, private beach, shops and so much more. A trip to the island promises to be a lifetime experience.

The government decided to allow locals invest in the tourist economy to make the economic growth stimulated by tourism all-inclusive. Before then, only a few businessmen and foreigners were allowed to invest in Maafushi and other islands. But now, a local can build a guesthouse in Maafushi and start earning foreign exchange as an active stakeholder in the tourism sector. The island of Maafushi is still open to investment, and the savvy investor can always find something good to offer the endless stream of tourists visiting the scenic island every day.